Britain’s Got Talent finalist Magical Bones is one of the more recognisable magicians on the Fringe thanks mostly to his BGT appearance. It’s quite hard to stand out above other magicians in a festival as saturated with the mystic arts as Edinburgh is this year, yet Bones does that, thanks to the non-magical skill set which embellishes his performances throughout.
A charming performer who adds his own personal touch and soulful touch to magic staples
Bones kicks off with a strong opening, demonstrating his suave presentation style with a robotic dance in his stylish suit. He then proceeds to deliver a routine which can be – and frequently is – performed by amateur and inexperienced magicians. I’ve even seen it done by muggle comics. If this is your first magic show or you're seeing him on tour then, sure, it’s a fun throwaway gag for any age. For Edinburgh, where you can expect a higher proportion of a given audience to be more populated with magic fans looking to experience something fresh, this is a poor omen, foreshadowing that the content will offer precious little that you’ll find exclusively in Soulful Magic.
Bones is a charming performer who adds his own personalised and soulful touch to magical staples, breakdancing and backflipping through select routines. A major highlight was a clever card routine set to an epic medley of hip hop anthems, combining Bones’s creativity and dexterity with his soulful M.O.
There’s a strong range of routines, including an escapology finale that will delight those unfamiliar with it, and it’s really refreshing to see a high quality magician of colour in an industry overwhelmingly dominated by straight white men. Bones is perfectly placed to help inspire budding young minority magicians to pursue their dream, or even dabble in a new hobby. If you’re the parent of one, please take them to see him and provide this opportunity.
Experienced magic audiences looking for an hour of fresh effects may feel let down but anyone else will surely appreciate the astounding tricks and plethora of physical skills displayed by this charismatic role model.
