Magic shows, always one of my favorite genres at Orlando Fringe, are underrepresented at this year’s Fringe. But who needs a parade of prestidigitators when Canada’s Keith Brown is back with another astounding set of illusions?
Don’t expect any materializing tigers or vanishing elephants in the Silver venue; ordinary objects like manila envelopes, postcards and brown paper bags are the only props Brown needs to confound and astound. Video projections allow you to appreciate Keith’s slick sleight-of-hand and killer close-up work even from the back row. I don’t want to spoil the surprises behind any of his tricks, many of which involve audience volunteers (too many to all be plants). However, he does give one attendee temporary mentalism superpowers with nothing more than a stack of cue cards, in a bit that draws gasps of laughter and amazement; a later demonstration of his memory palace technique is even more dazzling.
Brown’s patter is as polished as his palming, with edutaining tidbits about the influence of French royalty and the calendar on the development of modern playing cards., although an emotional story about an antique deck goes on a little too long. I’ve seen several of Keith’s segments multiple times before, yet he still manages to fool me again and again, the mark of a true master. For the best wizardry this side of Hogwarts, Keith Brown’s magic is 100% unmissable.
100% Wizard
Silver Venue, Orlando Family Stage
60 minutes; 7 & up
$15
Get tickets
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This article appears in May 14-20, 2025.