‘Maths nerds’ is not really a selling point for an invitation to a great Fringe event, but Morgan & West have mathematical calculation ability in spades – and they make spiffingly clever fun too! This time-travelling Victorian magic duo from the UK are on their return visit to Perth’s Fringe World. It’s well worth checking out their droll style of low-key patter and unique number-crunching passion.
The bare stage (apart from a row of books, briefcases and the ‘safe-keeping envelope’) enables our two performers, Robert West and Rhys Morgan, to move around and own the space. On stage from before the audience has entered, they have a Laurel and Hardy kooky air, emphasising their physical disparities in old-fashioned plaid suits while utilising excessively polite language: it’s almost a revelation to go and see this sort of thing on stage as a throwback to the past with the gentle enunciation throughout the show of: ‘Mr Morgan would you mind… thank you for reminding me Mr West’.
The performance starts with a remarkable act of mind-reading. Five randomly selected audience members think of their favourite biscuit and five accurate answers are returned by Morgan and West. The show goes on to involve a lot of volunteer participation, at one point a row of five ‘Masters of… taste/sight/smell etc’ are on stage for an ESP (extra sensory perception) demonstration. This is a mysterious and humorous act – aided by Morgan’s apparent photographic memory – and very cleverly constructed.
Morgan and West also have a special take on the cringe factor of ‘oh no… the magician’s trick didn’t work!!’, which not many performers are brave enough to endure. Even the audience member on stage with them wrings his hands (now that was pretty funny!), so full kudos to this funny British pair.
The well-crafted arc of the overall performance has finely judged ups-and-downs that ultimately leave you with a big ‘wow’ factor, but it’s more of a slow burn show, not a constant laugh out loud-a-thon.
Rating: 3 ½ stars out of 5
Morgan & West: Magnificent Mind Readers
Objective Talent
Performed by Robert West and Rhys Morgan
Teatro, Perth Cultural Centre, Northbridge
www.fringeworld.com.au
19 – 23 February
