Derren Brown: Miracle, Edinburgh Playhouse, Review

Rating (out of 5)
4
Show details
Company
Michael Vine for Vaudeville Productions Ltd
Production
Andy Nyman and Andrew O'Connor (Directors)
Performers
Derren Brown
Running time
140mins

Psychological illusionist Derren Brown has, for over a decade, wowed audiences by blurring the view and asking if what you're seeing is witchcraft, power of the mind or reality.

His varied areas of exploration include predicting the lottery numbers and playing Russian roulette on live television, through to denouncing psychics and faith healers. Oh and he's convinced people to rob in broad daylight. The charlatan.

That's a nice segue into the focus of Miracle - directed by Andy Nyman and Andrew O'Connor - which revisits the 2011 Miracles for Sale documentary subject of fraudulent pastors scamming the weak and vulnerable.

Mocking the wickedness in the world of faith healing as its central focus point may not please (or indeed excite) everyone and may be a bitter pill to swallow even for hardcore Brown fans, who may not be able to shake a touch of skepticism through this section.

Thankfully, opening the show up into a philosophical probe into the miracle of life, by being happier and more in control of it, allows for the quick witted humour of Brown to deliver the goods expected for his eager audience. And that's all the content detail you're getting.

The show remains shrouded in secrecy and Derren Brown asks the audience not to share the contents. Rightly so, as the magic of Brown's brand is the mystery of being in that space with 3000 people and the man himself. Plus, with his manipulative mind mastery I'm not taking the chance of defiling the sorcery, or destroying for a potential participant the simplicity of secrecy and surprise - things that are practically non existent in today's up to the minute social media sharing lives.

Derren has spoken before of his love for live performance and it's easy to see why, as his relaxed delivery and energy easily pull you in. Add that to the intoxicating aroma of the unexpected, palpable as the audience enter, through to the utter confoundment as they leave, Brown's wonder inducing gift of showmanship will remain with everyone who goes on the journey with him for a long time.

Plus, Derren is looking a little like Richard O'Brien these days... not a bad thing in my book at all.

Until Sat 23 May, then touring