The Piff the Magic Dragon Show

It's a surprisingly lucrative niche that John van der Put has carved out for himself under the guise of a deadpan, dragon-suited illusionist. Not only have the last few years seen him become a legitimate viral sensation while chalking up numerous TV appearances, he also spent much of 2012 on the road with Mumford and Sons, bringing magic to arena audiences usually more interested in second-hand banjos than accomplished sleight of hand.

Arriving hot on the heels of his recent successes, it's possible that Piff's latest show is subject to levels of expectation that simply cannot be met by a laconic, fire-breathing dragon. The low energy of the character's surprise entrance sets the tone for an hour that fails to ever really dazzle, yet is never anything less than inventive and amusing. Gently contemptuous audience interaction is the order of the day here, and the nonchalance with which Piff pulls off his tricks is as charming as ever. There's a palpable feeling of suspense within the room when his pet chihuahua is put in seemingly great danger, and if his assistant Amy Sunshine emerges from the festival without injury it will be a remarkable thing indeed.

If fault can be found with the show, it's because the mythical creature's trademark misanthropy is just a shade too lethargic, his set crawling wearily from each set piece to the next. The novelty of Piff's act doubtless attracted many to him in the first place, and is still winning him new followers, but is already starting to diminish as we grow increasingly familiar with the star.