Evening Standard (London): You couldn't make this up

Derren Brown

Cambridge Theatre

MAGICIAN Derren Brown certainly knows how to make compelling television, conjuring up his reputation on Channel 4 by playing Russian Roulette and conducting a chilling seance. Last night he confirmed that he can do it unedited, too, with a dizzying display of devilry that left witnesses scratching their collective heads in disbelief.

This goatee-bearded imp insists that he is no psychic, merely using a pick 'n' mix of "magic, suggestion, psychology, misdirection and showmanship". For all the scientific wrapping, his main talent is repackaging oldfashioned illusion brilliantly, creating a traditional-yet-hip hybrid.

Many of Brown's stunts are variations on a theme of predicting what number or words a fan is going to pick, yet it never ceases to amaze.

The first half is good if slightly padded, but the second half ups the ante, changing tone with a gasp-eliciting walk on broken glass and a series of increasingly elaborate mental challenges.

The performance ends with a playful coup de theatre that suggests we've all been more duped than we realise. As he built breathlessly to his climax, Brown asked the press not to spoil the fun by revealing details.

He needn't worry. We could print his entire script and he would still be mind-boggling.

. Until 2 July.

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