Comedy / Review
Review: Ali Cook, 1532 Performing Arts Centre
Ali Cook is an odd beast. A successful touring magician who plays big rooms but whose tricks are mostly of the sort best suited to small groups of punters at a bar; a performer happy to invite magic-hungry children to his show but also happy to joke about poisoning their mothers with Rohypnol. Whatever else, he is undoubtedly a brilliant close-up magician, whose deft and flighty fingers produce myriad miracles tonight.
But he suffers from an unevenness of tone and a feeling that, even in Bristol Grammar School’s medium-sized performance space, most of his tricks could do with the close scrutiny that only those who he invites on to the stage are able to give them.
The premise of the show is that Cook will perform ‘every type of magic trick’ identified in magician Arthur Buckley’s 1948 book Principles and Deceptions, from David Copperfield-esque grand illusion to Derren Brown-alike psychological suggestion.
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In reality, Cook sticks largely to tricks that make use of his top-notch sleight-of-hand skills, but there are some welcome changes of pace with a couple of prop-based disappearing and floating acts, as well as a ‘hypnosis’ routine which is impressive for having Cook’s tricksy fingers nowhere near it.
Cook’s style is old-school razzmatazz, all cheesy grins and jazz hands, underscored by sinister humour and a feeling that, underneath it all, he may be somewhat unhinged. This worked brilliantly with a late-night crowd at Edinburgh that I was part of some years ago, but with this mixed-age audience the humour and edge of danger feel uncomfortable rather than thrilling.
My personal favourite routine, in which Cook appears to swallow five razor blades whilst spitting out copious amounts of blood, is squirmy, horrific brilliance with perfect comic timing. But I couldn’t help being distracted by the child in front of me, turned away and distressed throughout, and I wonder if Cook needs to either refine his audience or adapt his show.
A bewildering experience, mostly – but not always – in the right ways.
Ali Cook was at the 1532 Performing Arts Centre on Sat, Nov 17.
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