Mind Mangler – Member of the Tragic Circle at The Apollo Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue Review
DISCLOSURE – TICKETS TO SEE THE SHOW WERE GIFTED TO THE REVIEWER AND GUEST FOR THE PURPOSES OF WRITING THE REVIEW
Reviewed by Chelsea W
The Mind Mangler was an all-round fantastic show; 5 stars for this one is an absolute no-brainer for me.
I have not laughed that much in a theatre, I think, ever. During the interval, other theatre go-ers were complaining about how their sides were hurting from how much they were laughing. Throughout the show, people’s true laughs crept out – you know the ones, the ridiculous noises we normally try to stifle in public, but within this immersive experience, you couldn’t help it.
The audience participation was not exactly limited to those just in the stalls, which helped us all feel included within the show, which separates this from other participation shows I have seen. It started from the point of being shown to your seats (think up a juicy secret before you arrive), continued throughout the show, even in the interval.
The clear play on magicians’ tricks was imaginative, along with inserts of the emotions of life events, all whilst never taking away from the comedy of it all. It got less and less predictable as the show went on, meaning it always grips your attention.
I really enjoyed the mixed-media approach – having some pre-recorded videos shown on screen, some live feed, and everything on stage, also. The mixture of pre-recorded and live feed definitely helped with some of the ‘mind mangling’ during the show (don’t want to give too much away here!).
There were many children there and, whilst perhaps mostly aimed at a more mature audience, with some slightly more colourful language, I would argue that it is very much suitable for all ages.
The set was simple, yet incredibly effective. A curtain that split in the middle in the background to allow for larger props when required. The props were fantastic, didn’t give away too much away (as a magician’s props should be!) and again, simple, so your focus was always on the actors. The lights and music were always perfectly placed and only ever enhanced the scene.
The actors (and authors!) are the team behind Mischief Comedy – those that brought the long standing ‘The Play That Goes Wrong’ to life. They have created an incredible sub-genre of comedy, and it’s thrilling to see the avenues that they continue to go down. The passion for what they do is blinding, and incredibly inspiring.
The Apollo theatre is gorgeous; a smaller building than some other theatres, but gorgeous all the same, and probably one of my favourites. The team there are absolutely delightful, and it is clear that everyone’s goal is for you to just have a wonderful time. Also, incredibly easy to get to using public transport, with it being only a couple minutes’ walk from Piccadilly underground station.
Mind Mangler is showing March 26th to April 28th, and you can buy these tickets directly through Mischief Comedy at https://tickets.mischiefcomedy.com/city/2957-london/1G1FU-mind-mangler-member-of-the-tragic-circle/ with prices starting at just £22.50! An absolute steal for such a great show! Grab your family, friends, whoever – just make sure you see this show while you can!
Rating: 5/5