Mr Swallow – Houdini

Nick Mohammed has accrued an enviable reputation at the Fringe and beyond with his fast-talking, slow-witted alter ego Mr Swallow, and deservedly so. Onstage, he can be abrasive, childlike, cowardly and egotistical, and as any amount of mediocre Fringe shows exist to testify, none of these qualities are automatically funny or endearing. Yet Mohammed understands what less imaginative comedians often don't: that creating a silly character is only half the job. What matters is how you use him.

This may be one of the few productions at the Fringe where a performer's alter ego has an alter ego; that of Harry Houdini, who tells the story of his life and the motivations behind his death-defying feats through a tightly-packed hour of musical comedy. It should be noted that this is strictly a triple-act: Mohammed is aided, in jokes, storytelling and even more ambitious escapades, by his two benighted assistants, alternately baffled and frustrated by Swallow's increasingly inaccurate portrayal of Houdini, while also playing multiple roles and joining him in songs that are few in number, but well-judged and—unlike many comic musicals—never feel like padding.

The comedic portions could justify the performance alone, but Mohammed realises that our enduring cultural fascination with Houdini is obviously and unbreakably tied to escapology. How could you put on a show based around his life and exploits without dabbling in the art? For those familiar with Houdini, all that need be said is "Chinese Water Torture Cell". Yet much like the rest of the show, familiarity will render it no less impressive.