Our hero begins his journey as a down and out grifter, pursuing the satisfying crumbs of success in street short cons and spending his nights collapsed in the gutter. Stumbling across a remarkable gift, he finds his talents blossoming and rises to become an international mind-reading sensation. His dreams all come true until, abruptly, the gift passes and reveals his amazing rags to riches story to have been part of someone else’s multi-layered long con, all along.
Matt Penny spins his tale in a musing manner, opening with reveals of the mechanics of the three-card monte, explaining how the one-man card trick is actually an operation of several players, all with their own distinct roles as the crowd gathers in the street. His descriptions of the characters around him are lyrical, evoking the diverse individuals that populate his small world before his skills suddenly develop as a gift, with a suspected hidden curse. As with many a Fringe show, audience participation is key, and Penny’s various mind reading and card tricks are performed with aplomb, smoothly supporting his hero’s journey. Moments at the keyboard clearly demonstrate the arrival, and departure, of the character’s gifts, but also impress with Penny’s ease at playing pianist and raconteur simultaneously.
With small reveals of petty card trickery (a prank deck of cards) followed by classic “guess the card” moments using regular cards, Penny bemuses audience members with old standards. Lessons in magic performance concepts bring everyone on board as the hero’s star rises to become a regular television feature, bugbear to Penn and Teller and even a millionaire after claiming the stake against proven psychic abilities from The Great Randi. Penny’s wistful demeanour lends pathos to his character’s fall from grace and his hopeful quest to find a specific lady, once he realises that he been has played as the patsy in a series of longer cons.
A subtle soundtrack brings further emotional intensity to the highs and lows of the tale, without distracting, throughout. Within the limits of the black box theatre, a shifting projection display draws the eye and brings further substance to the nature of the remarkable gift that moves the action. However, the reveal of a final trick, after his departure from the stage, has eyes popping and jaws dropping through the audience.
A clever combination of music, magic and story-telling, Penny weaves a coherent whole in a sweetly sad work that entertains on several levels.
4 stars out of 5
Find the Lady
Presented by The Blue Room Theatre Summer Nights & Matt Penny
Performed by Matt Penny
Blue Room Theatre, Fringe Central, Perth Cultural Centre
30 January – 3 February 2018
Part of FringeWorld 2018
fringeworld.com.au
