Magicians! Behind the Magic!

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It’s a classic combination for the comedy duo: the naïve apprentice locked into an abusive relationship with the domineering, bullying and often incompetent master. The former is oblivious to his maltreatment because he's so overjoyed to be close to the latter, who couldn’t live without the ego-boosting power of his lackey's adulation. And so we have Dupont (Richard Crawley), the bespectacled 'French' runaway, who has followed the vain and deluded master magician Fabuloso (Alex Swift) to England to learn the craft of magic.

But for Dupont, there is no craft to be learnt, no sleights of hand to be practised and no illusions to be created. For him, magic is as real as gravity: mysterious and natural, existing plainly. Cue the magic box, which turns ordinary own-brand white bread into toast and makes two pence coins appear behind each of his ears at Fabuloso’s command. The truth, however, slowly reveals itself not only for Dupont and Fabuloso but for us, too, as the sequined duo lose and then, with the audience's help, attempt to restore their faith in magic.

While this is an unashamedly silly show, the simple, joyful energy of these two combined with the self-consciously homemade nature of the props will ensure they charm their way into your heart before the hour is up. Just don’t go expecting to be confounded by magic tricks – the only real mysteries are Swift’s leggings. Just how did he get into them?