Sit back, relax and prepare to be delighted, astounded and amazed as The Mind Mangler shows you the power of the mind! After conquering the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2022 and blowing the minds of audiences in New York in 2023, ‘The Mind Mangler: Member of the Tragic Circle’ has landed in the West End at the Apollo Theatre.
Written by Mischief Comedy’s Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer and Henry Sheilds, ‘The Mind Mangler: Member of the Tragic Circle’ brings to life a character from one of their previous shows, ‘Magic Goes Wrong’. The Mind Mangler, or Keith (yes, he’s called Keith), is back on the road, touring his own show across the country before he embarks on the journey of a lifetime to play a gig in Las Vegas. Armed with a swanky new set, paid for by the legendary Bob Kojak, and boasting the very best tricks in the biz, Keith has it all. He’s just got a few problems – his wife left him, he’s been kicked out of the magic circle and his act seems to be one failure after another.
Combining magic tricks, comedy and audience participation is no mean feat, yet the geniuses behind ‘The Play That Goes Wrong’ have mastered it once again. It takes a certain skill to make things go wrong in a way that still entertains and amuses an audience and this trio of writers, who ran with this winning formula 10 years ago, have continued to apply it to this show. With Hannah Starkey’s strong direction, the concept feels fresh, original and unlike anything you’ve ever seen before.
Across the course of two hours, we watch in awe as The Mind Mangler attempts to read the audience’s minds, beat a supercomputer at a chess game, and even walk on water. Some tricks go awry, but it’s all part of the fun and, with the help of the magic consultant, Ben Hart, every trick looks impressive and calculated, even those that backfire. Whilst the keen-eyed might be able to spot the planted shout-outs and on-purpose blunders from the true interactions, it isn’t glaringly obvious and doesn’t take away from just how playfully funny they are.
Henry Lewis shines as Keith, delivering a masterclass in comedy. He makes us feel comfortable laughing at the misfortunes that have befallen this middle-aged delusional magician, inviting us to chuckle at the comments made towards his divorce from his cheating ex-wife and allowing us to empathise when he suffers lapses in his confidence. With stance and stare alone, Henry’s stage presence is commanding and it’s enough to have the audience hanging on his every word.
Balancing Keith’s massive ego and bringing him down to Earth is Steve the Stooge, played by the irreplaceable and quick-witted Jonathan Sayer. Whilst Steve doesn’t always get things right (much to Keith’s annoyance), his heart is in the right place and we see this in Jonathan’s incredible performance in some of the more emotional scenes in the show. Jonathan and Henry work harmoniously together, their real-life friendship shining through and playing a part in bringing these fictional characters to life so perfectly.
Sara Perks’ set brings the expected sparkle of a traditional magic show and, despite being minimal, highlights everything in just the right ways. Combined with fantastic lighting design by David Howe, the stage has been transformed into a glittering magician’s paradise.
One of the most impressive and interactive features of Mind Mangler is the video design by Gillian Tan. The backdrop screen is there to aid comedic points instead of hindering them and arguably produces some standout moments. Handheld camera phones being used to advance the interaction element is a stroke of genius and we see individuals beamed up onto a screen in real time for everyone to see. As audience members have their deepest, darkest secrets deduced, you can see their every facial expression which makes you feel involved, no matter if you’re in the front row or in the balcony.
Recognition must be given to Tom Wainwright (who plays Percy) who not only expertly handles this camera and collects secrets from the audience at the start of the show, but also plays a key part in being the magician’s assistant in the tricks throughout. Percy is there to ensure The Mind Mangler’s props are where they need to be and he even aids Keith in reading the audience’s minds. Despite a seemingly small role, Tom brings a sweetness to Percy that has the audience beaming the moment they interact with him in the pre-show.
Overall, The Mind Mangler: Member of the Tragic Circle is a side-splitting comedy that will have you laughing for hours and, ultimately, it has heart at its centre, pulling together all the home comforts of a Mischief show that we know and love. It feels familiar yet exciting, bold and brave, breaking barriers with the audience and inviting them to believe in the power of the mind for an evening. This show is not to be missed so grab a ticket, forget the world and laugh until your belly and cheeks are sore!
The Mind Mangler: Member of the Tragic Circle is currently playing at the Apollo Theatre in London’s West End, before embarking on a UK Tour. For more information, click here.
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