After an incredible whirlwind of success in the USA, London finally gets to witness the incredible Mario the Maker Magician- currently sold out for June at the Underbelly Boulevard. Mario has made whistle stop tours on Sesame Street and Jimmy Fallon and although the show centres and celebrates the children in the audience, it is definitely not just a kids show. It’s a hug to your inner child and a beautiful reminder that you should ALWAYS do what you love.
The stage is seemingly cluttered with old broken objects, inflatable tins of soup tower over the magician as he enters with the most breathtaking energy- I couldn’t quite believe how a person might keep it up. But he did.
The most difficult audience is an audience of children, keeping them in their seats and excited all the same time. Clearly a mastermind at his craft we learn the rules straightaway and with Mario, rules are so much fun. He encourages misbehaviour at all the right times and when you think something could be going wrong, he’s planned for it- this is actually what he had hoped for.
Audience interaction is of course mandatory, grown-ups included. Everyone is needed to make the magic of the show to work. Children are asked to help Mario out too, particularly a sweet interaction is with little Penelope who exclaimed she will be a Vet when she grows up. The audience join in to help her magic trick work but not with the casual ‘abracadabra’ but with beautiful words of encouragement and I don’t think anyone could watch an audience of kids throwing lovely uplifting words to a fellow child without getting a little bit emotional. I think this is why it’s not JUST a kids show, we forget to speak to ourselves and others in that way and if we can teach our kiddos to feel that love and confidence then what a beautiful world they’ll make. I don’t know if you can tell but I’m so jealous I didn’t get to watch shows like this when I was younger.
The show runs like a well oiled machine, a one person show is hard enough but this performance is completely mesmerising that once it’s over you perhaps take the first full breath you’ve had for a while. The magic, completely faultless. A beautiful message paired with the materials he used, ‘use what you have’. Everything slightly tattered but well loved and well used reminds our small audience that anything can come from the lost and found box and still provide a lifetime of comfort.
I feel really lucky I got to share this experience with the audience and to witness our small audience feel pride, confidence, eagerness to live and love. Mario knows how to tug on the heartstrings of the grown-ups and make the kids endlessly laugh, he’s a mastermind and thank God London gets the opportunity to see it in person.
This show started as a husband and wife dream to tour a show about a magician. Now they are hugely successful and I can’t think of anyone more deserving, what they have created is truly special and now they travel as a family, with their two children touring this show for all of us to see.
Do something wonderful for your inner child, or your actual children and witness Mario the Maker Magician before it sells out.
Reviewer: Alice Rose
Reviewed: 23rd June 2024
North West End UK Rating: