The McMagicSandwich! [with fries]

I was apprehensive about The McMagicSandwich (with fries), described as ‘exploding lightbulbs, slapstick danger and crayzeeeness’, reminiscent of hot air-inflated slapstick shtick we usually associate with comedy such as Harry Hill or Dick and Dom in Da Bungalow. However, the content of the show was pleasantly surprising.

The majority of the charm of this performance lay not in its tricks or games, but in the charisma of Seska, who maintained a bubbling energy throughout the show.

The comedy-magic act by Seska from Uzbekistan was clearly aimed at young children, however it also created humour for all ages by utilising the time-honoured comedic tactic of making grown men wear silly items of clothing and embarrass themselves on stage in front of their spouses and offspring. These farcical touches – such as family man ‘Hilary’ donning a chicken suit and pretending to lay an egg onstage – were the highlights of the performance, cunningly masking the fact that the magical element of the show was not as strong or as clever as it could have been.

The target audience of The McMagicSandwich (with fries) were greatly entertained, one small child enthusiastically adopting a red curly wig and ‘magically’ transforming the wrong key into the right one – an act of mystique deservedly astonishing to a six year old child. The majority of the charm of this performance lay not in its tricks or games, but in the charisma of Seska, who maintained a bubbling energy throughout the show, even inviting his young audience members to have photographs taken with him at the end.

The intimate setting of the Blue Man served its purpose well, giving the performance a warm, family-friendly atmosphere; this also meant the audience was small enough for Seska to individually high-five each member. Overall, this is a show that caters for families with small children, with little to offer anyone else. However, the bombardment of sounds, music, colours and Seska’s infectious, quick-fire energy means that even the most fidgety of children will be spellbound for 45 minutes of silliness.