A first visit to the Criterion Theatre, nestled below the centre of Piccadilly Circus and its glaring world-famous lights and silhouettes, is like entering a hidden Italian music hall palazzo in the West End: Painted tiles, vast mirrors, detailed glass art and red seats promise an unforgettable visit. First opened in 1874, this classic but nevertheless unique London theatre has a lot of stories to tell for which alone it is worth to pick up the program of any performance one will enjoy here and even worth doing some reading up beyond; “a perfect bijou theatre in its own right” claims the always helpful book London’s Great Theatres.
Tonight’s show is the brain child of British stage magic authority Derren Brown, Andrew O’Connor and Ghost Stories co-writer Andy Nyman together with the creative teams at the Mercury Theatre in often overlooked Colchester, Essex, where Unbelievable premiered this summer. The performers are actors following a scripted evening, thought of by established experts in the fields of illusion and physical truth-bending – rather than full-time magicians themselves. But they are all professional singers, musicians and without doubt up for the challenge to perform as illusionists eight times a week in this thoughtfully curated magic show – apparently performing tricks was already part of their casting.
Even before we are seated the full house is very busy. While wedding bands are measured, plenty of tasks and errands are being distributed to audience members, cards filled out and put in a basket on stage: This energetic buzz will not really calm down over the next two and a half hours, especially not during the insta-story worth interval (by the way, have you observed the venue’s façade from the higher stairs of the Piccadilly Circus statue? Might worth a visit after leaving, just saying).
There is lots of music, played on the saxophone, trumpet, drums and later on the clarinet, flute and a grand piano (I have never heard of musical telepathy but it seems to be reliable in most cases). Further, there are magic Victoriana cabinets, not as vicious as the ones in the Defence Against The Dark Arts, but nevertheless wonderous and astonishing, several curtains of string, and musical snake oil numbers, transferring us to America’s 1920s prohibition era and leading to a boozy audience choir on stage, the auditorium and its glamourous balconies. The Criterion’s ushers are definitely kept on their feet. Shouldered cameras on stage and through the audience allow close-up magic, solid-through-solid tricks and sudden productions, mentalism and proof all over that women are not just assistance waiting to be sawed through smilingly… but the best acts are of course those we have been asked not talk about – big Mousetrap promise! But as someone who had Criss Angel crawl over her feet, just please do not sit yourself in the front row if you are not ready to participate actively. This is a very engaging evening with a cast whose chemistry is infectious. Believe me.
**** out of 5 stars
Unbelievable has been directed and written by Derren Brown, Andy Nyman and Andrew O’Connor and The Mercury Theatre in Colchester and is a collaboration between Vaudeville Production, Kenny Wax and John Dalston..
Tickets started from £20 plus a restoration fee, show closed in early January 2024.
Sadie takes the Stage 