Review of Jamie Allan's Amaze for The Live Review, October 2024
PREPARE TO BE AMAZED
A review by Charlotte Mason-Mottram
Critics, youngsters, children of the eighties, and anyone else—get ready to be amazed. Jamie Allan’s show, Amaze, truly has the wow factor. Not only are the stories, skills, and sleights of hand remarkable, but Allan’s stage presence is just as captivating, if not more so. He had the audience in a frenzy of “oohs” and “aahs,” awakening the inner child in all of us. You will be pleasantly charmed by the astonished little voices of children witnessing magic for the first time.
Allan, an eighties kid himself, first takes us on a journey to the past by exploring the darker side of magic, including topics like witchcraft and the historical practice of burning people at the stake. He discusses how this dark heritage has evolved over generations, from children receiving Fisher-Price magic sets to modern illusionists with plenty of resources to perform incredible stunts.
Allan’s show is unique; he is visibly grateful for the spectacle, the noise, and the audience’s participation. He truly engages with his audience and evokes a sense of nostalgia that resonates even with the most determined critics. With nods to the eighties and nineties, even a Gen Z kid like myself was lusting for the magic of being a child during those decades. Think NeverEnding Story, Star Wars, and Sting’s Shape of My Heart.
We are natural logic seekers, but it doesn’t take long before you let go. Allan had an innovative way of randomising audience participation by throwing a sponge brick into the audience without looking. There’s no preparation for the tricks; you just have to take (or be floored by) each one as it comes. And when the curtain closes on Act One, you feel relieved it’s not over. Your appetite for magic has only grown!
The production features a darker theme that could be challenging for a younger audience. Allan’s late mother is reimagined on stage as a ghost, which might appear haunting. However, the visual spectacle of the performance compensates for this aspect. I won’t reveal any more details.
Allan had an illusion he wanted to show us, but it was never performed due to technical difficulties that felt like part of the act. I was left eagerly anticipating Allan’s redemption, where he would pull off the impossible trick. However, even the most magical can face good old-fashioned iPad problems. This made the performance feel slightly disjointed but also added to Allan’s authenticity. After all, even magicians are human.
Amaze is genuinely something that must be seen to be believed (or not believed). Amaze is running at Criterion Theatre until 23 November.