Perhaps more than any other performer at Edinburgh’s Magicfest 2023, Elliot Bibby is unashamedly a comedian and entertainer first and a magician second. There is certainly no shortage of laugh-out-loud moments from this cheeky and charming magic man which make it quite different to all the others I’ve reviewed so far on the programme.
Of course, comedy within magic is nothing new. Add a funny hat to the tall, dark Bibby and the Cooperesque comparison would be inescapable. No more so than when Bibby carries out the hilarious Bottle Glass, Glass bottle routine, which was one of Tommy’s absolute highlights. A lady behind me was in total hysterics during this sketch as bottle after bottle appeared on the ever diminishing table! Whilst comedy, can, of course, be a strength when combined with magic, it can also be a weakness and needs to be handled with a special touch. I’m not convinced that Bibby has got that balance quite right yet, he is certainly not the buffoon that Cooper was, he is on a different but as yet unlabelled route, the Bibby path perhaps.
For now, the magic is good but not outstanding, and in the absence of any particularly stand out tricks or illusions, where Bibby undoubtably excels is in warming the crowd and keeping them on his side throughout.
Reviewer: Greg Holstead
Reviewed: 29th December 2023
North West End UK Rating:
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