Colin Cloud conjures a cryptic presence as the audience enter to him trapped motionless in a large perspex box. Cloud creates an atmosphere where anything can happen, with eerie classical music setting a backdrop to screens where the more intrepid guests are invited to take a selfie in front of the box. Several audience members indulge, uploading the selfies to their social media. And this sets in motion a chain reaction, with the show developing from this point onwards.
A slick, sophisticated hour of illusion which enthrals the audience at every turns
From the outset, Cloud declares himself to be a scientist and not a magician, and we are invited to look for the logic in what he will present. A self confessed illusionist, he presents a skilful air of manipulation as he weaves suggestion into the vortex of our minds. Observing the suggestive elements of the audience, Cloud attempts to transfer the nightmares of one audience member into another. He bends our minds and creates an alternative reality with this and other such feats, even managing to cause the whole audience to experience simultaneous quickened pulses.
Much of Cloud’s performance centres around an intricate immersive audience plot. This threads throughout the show, which is modern illusion peppered with a few old style magic tricks involving cards and rubix cubes. Although the majority of Cloud’s gimmicks will not be unfamiliar to lovers of illusion, the audience were clearly impressed and it’s his inimitable stage presence which lifts these to a new level.
This is a slick, sophisticated hour of illusion which enthrals the audience at every turn. They gasp audibly, each and every time they fall prey to Cloud’s psychological mystery. This is an hour of contemporary magic which makes time pass at double speed.
