Fringe Review: 'Magic, Music and a Little Mayhem'

Most magicians use music as background for their routines, but James and Joshua Songster of Magic and Mayhem put the Fretless Rock trio (Michelle Jones, Elizabeth Chaconas, Yamilet Trujillo) front and center for their Fringe production, which is equal parts concert and illusion show. A sister troupe to Violectric, Jones and company play electrified orchestral instruments with cool custom cut-out bodies and color-changing LEDs. Their song selections — Coldplay, Sting, Eurythmics — are perfect picks for the "chamber pop" treatment, but without the acoustic resonance of regular instruments, the sound system's overly aggressive reverb makes the live performances sound synthesized.

Magic, Music, and a Little Mayhem
Magic And Mayhem Productions D/B/A It's Unbelievable Magic - Davenport, FL
7 DATES THROUGH MAY 29, 2016
Venue: Pink
Length: 70 Min
Price: $10 (Disc: FA | FV | MIL | STU | SR)
Rating: All Ages 
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As for the magic tricks, they are typical of what you'd see at an upscale birthday party or mid-grade cruise ship. Nearly all the effects appear to have been purchased off the shelf, rather than designed by the Songsters, and most of their simple mechanisms are glaringly apparent to the practiced observer. More problematically, the pacing of their pieces is frequently poky, forcing the instrumentalists to repeat their songs ad infinitum. Even if their legerdemain is a bit loose, the father-son pair is an affable duo, drawing gentle laughs with their pantomimed patter.

While the titular magic and music may be a bit of a mixed bag, the show's real star is a beautiful and well-behaved albino bunny rabbit who provides a little mayhem. For fans of adorable animals, getting to pet him post-performance may be worth the price of admission all on its own.