I love comedy and magic especially when the two are sandwiched together.

Having been brought up on one liners, Robert Orben and music hall comedians and magicians, I’m not too wild about alternative, in your face comedy that often involves lifestyle commentary on doubtful subjects – bodily waste matter, diverse sexual practices and the like – together with a liberal sprinkling of expletives.

 It’s my problem as comedy clubs are full of enthusiastic and vocal audiences so there is a strong market and I don’t deny it. I’m not a cynical old grunt who turns his back on all this current comedy genre for I do like some of the stars – Jack Dee, Lee Evans, Eddy Izzard and others who for me bring a little more theatre and professionalism to their presentation but hey – it’s a free world.

But I was thrilled that the gap between comedy magic of the past and present was delightfully closed for me when I recently witnessed a young comedian/magician from Middlesborough called Pete Firman.

First saw him in the TV series “Monkey Magic” where his real talent and personality did not come to the surface in the company of three other magicians. But I recently saw him present his one man show “Hokum” in London and whilst he is a wild, high octane performer, expletives and all, he won me over.

His magic (real magic not cod gags) and comedy was for me outstanding. His opening item with an attempted prediction with him dressed as a giant banana was real theatre and set the entertainment standard for the whole show.

I am so grateful to Pete Firman, surely one of the finest younger comedy magicians around today for restoring my faith in the current comedy scene. I think he’ll be appearing at Edinburgh later this year. 

Filed under: Magic Reviews