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Impossible at the Palace Theatre Manchester Review

ImpossibleImpossible
Palace Theatre, Manchester

22-26 March 2016

www.atgtickets.com/palacetheatre

Reviewed by Melanie Allen

I walk past the Palace Theatre every day and didn’t see Impossible advertised until the actual first day of the show. Hefty priced NCP parking is ample around the theatre and but you can get your NCP ticket validated once you are inside the theatre to reduce the cost.

My theatre buddy, my 8 year old son adores magic, so he was thrilled to be witnessing real life magic. It also helped we had a great view of the stage in row H of the stalls (although there were televisions for those not so close, and a massive screen for those in the circle). You could sense the excitement of the audience as we entered the auditorium as we were handed an envelope to take part in the Chris Cox mindreading task later in the show. Each seat had a ‘Top Secret’ envelope which some people could not wait to open!

Impossible is the most amazing live show I have ever seen. It will blow your mind and leave you mystified. The talent of each magician will astound you and leave you wanting more. Hence the name of show – you will truly believe, how did they do that? That’s impossible?

The theme of the show is the history of magic. Not only are we are treated to the ‘traditional’ no-risk magic, where the glamourous assistant is cut in two, the rope is cut up and then it becomes one again (very funny trick performed by Ben Hart and a small boy from the audience) and rings are linked together and then unlinked. This show goes one step further and pushes the boundaries of the unthinkable. Audience participation was vital to this show and is what made it as successful as it was.

Daredevil and escapologist Jonathan Goodwin (who by the way has the most amazing body – much to the delight of the female audience) had us all on the edge of our seats whilst he performs his flaming Houdini trick, teeth crunching metal spanner trick and his blindfolded crossbow miracle.

Mind-reader Chris Cox is not your typical magician – he looks more like a wacky children’s television presenter. He is witty, modest and hugely entertaining and how the audience reacted to his mindreading act was one of disbelief. How he did it I will never understand.

My favourite magician and most gorgeous was Ben Hart. His spooky ‘creep’ act was quite disturbing and exciting at the same time (at this point, my son’s hand crept into mine) and when he made a lady from the audience move from one side of the stage to the other, he certainly gained my respect.

Josephine Lee, the only female illusionist didn’t have a large part in the show, but still managed to impress with her disappearing act.

Pickpocket extraordinaire, Lee Thompson has us all in stitches as he pilfered the pockets of one of the audience unbeknown to him. He also performed the ‘Top Secret’ trick (envelope on our seats) which for myself worked, but my son it didn’t (much to his disappointment – I think it was his own fault for not counting properly!).

The last act, Magic Bones took the award for the best trick I have ever seen. How the £20 note that was set alight appeared inside the chocolate bar still baffles me to this day. His incredible back flip choosing card was also nigh on short of a miracle. His card trick to finish with to music was also incredible.

If you can get tickets to see this show (children are half price), you absolutely need to see this to believe it. Out of this world, made me feel like I was in Vegas!  If I could give this show more than 5 stars, I would.

Rating: 5/5 thumbs_up

Tickets cost from £16.90 to £48.90 (plus £2.85 transaction fee).

Impossible is at the Palace Theatre in Manchester until 26 March 2016. For more information or to book tickets click here or call the box office on 0844 871 3019.

Palace Theatre, 97 Oxford Street, Manchester, M1 6FT | 0844 871 3019

5 Star

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