What: Science Magic
Where: Parasol Lounge at Gluttony – Rymill Park
Duration: 60 minutes
When: now through to March 15
Genre: Childrens / Comedy
Review by Sarah List
Kids are a tough gig. You serve them their favorite food and they’ve decided they hate spaghetti Bolognese. Or you take them to see something with My Little Ponies and that’s suddenly for ‘little kids’. How do you choose a fringe show that 4, 7 and 9 (going on 20) year olds will all enjoy? Well, I can say with a high degree of certainty that Science Magic tickles the fancy of each of these ages, including our world-weary 9 year old.
Donal Vaughan is a master of making the most mundane objects magical. Using only things found around the house, he makes a terrifically huge mess (always a winner with kids) with the help of his audience volunteers, and he explains how each trick works, and how they can perform the same tricks at home using everyday objects. Many of the experiments involve the production of gas, so there’s plenty of reference to pixie farts (they make the gas that goes into soft drink apparently) and leprechaun bums, and let’s face it – these are probably the two most hilarious words ever invented according to 4, 7 and 9 year olds. Donal’s deadpan, offbeat humor also works for the adults too, who are able to relax enough and have plenty of laughs once they realise they haven’t blown their $$ on another show that promises to entertain their kids but fails dismally. Honestly, seeing polar opposites Shy Mister 4 and Terribly Serious Miss 9 both enjoying and getting involved with the same production was testament to Donal’s skill of knowing what really smashes the entertainment buttons of his audience.
Favorite parts? They loved the vomiting unicorn, the threat of a child volunteer being doused in urine* (*yellow coloured water, not actual urine!) from a bag hovering over their head that has been stabbed with pencils, and the grand finale with actual FIRE (Donal does not release the ingredients of this experiment, FYI folks! Safety first!).
A certain entertainer for the most difficult to entertain kids, and be early for the best seats as the show was absolutely packed.
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