Letters To West 113th

Rating:

Company: Newman Mentalism

Genre: Magic

Venue: 12 - Asper Centre for Theatre & Film (U of W)

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Is Calgary mentalist Jeff Newman really communing with the spirit world to read minds and discover what hisaudience is thinking?

Well, no but there are plenty of moments in this entertaining magic show that will leave you asking, "How did he know that?"

• Winnipeg Fringe 2017: read our reviews

There are plenty of moments in this entertaining magic show that will leave you asking, 'How did he know that?'- Joff Schmidt

Newman roughly frames it around a story about a magician named Thomas Whitford, who, Newman's story goes, amazed the great Houdini.

The framing device is loose, and sometimes vanishes from the show altogether, but it does provide an excuse for some pretty nifty tricks.

Seemingly just from picking up sealed envelopes, Newman managed to divine information audience members had written on cards and sealed away prior to the show. He somehow makes writing appear on a chalkboard without touching it, and seems to help ordinary audience members telepathically transmit messages.

On that of that, he's got a nice, easy rapport with his audience.

Otherwordly? No, but it's a magically intriguing fringe experience.