Performer Rob Drummond demonstrates how to keep an audience entertained by actually doing very little yourself. For the majority of the show, the audience are forced to scrutinise one another, but Drummond’s charm and natural stage presence relaxes the audience, allowing them to bond with the actor in a relationship of mutual trust and respect. Using fascinating historical commentary to validate the ‘stunt so dangerous Houdini refused to attempt it’, Drummond forges a connection with a stranger, presenting him with a series of choices all leading towards the infamous electrifying climax. ‘The Bullet Catch has claimed the lives of at least 12 illusionists’; the audience are in no doubt about the danger of performing such a trick, but with modern technology the risks certainly seem less serious. Despite that, the build-up is thrilling. By putting a loaded weapon into an audience member’s hand and convincing them to fire it directly into their face after target practice on a dinner plate, the show tests the limits of persuasion and human interaction. I certainly had a knot in the pit of my stomach and must applaud the poor woman firing the weapon. This is a unique, stressful, and unforgettable experience for his volunteers in particular, but the whole audience benefits from these propositions. Unfortunately, I was unlucky enough to be seated in such a place that I could see the secret behind one of Drummond’s tricks, a fact that somewhat dampened the magic of his illusions.
If it hadn’t been for my compromising position and unfortunate discovery of his tricks, this exhilarating show would have undoubtedly had an even greater impact on me. It is a clever and exciting drama from an unusually humble personality. Flashy showmanship is cast aside; Drummond wins over the audience thanks to his surprisingly honest stage presence that raises the adrenalin and excites human intrigue at the flick of a trigger. When thrust into the spotlight with a stranger, what would you do? Kill, save, or love?
