Presented by Matt Tarrant
@ Various Venues, Times and Dates
SATURDAY 10th March (until March 18th)

The concept of Mindblown is pretty awesome and a little strange for a Fringe show.  Basically, you might be sitting having a drink at a venue in the vicinity of Adelaide and be approached by one of three young men who will attempt to blow your mind with some pretty suave up-close magic. There will be no rabbits and no hats in sight, just many baffling displays of coolness and sleight of hand. In various locations and all for free it isn’t surprising to see people responding warmly to Mindblown.

Magic is a strange pastime for someone in this day and age but Tarrant can still remember being a kid in ‘97 when his dad took him to see Rudy Coby, a kitschy 90s magician who dressed as a mad scientist and whose neon doorframe clip on youtube is worth a look, if only for the song.

Having someone perform for you personally is a unique and enjoyable experience, particularly when it isn’t just your usual tricks with cards. I picked a card and gave it back to the magician, he then somehow morphed the back of the cards so when laid out in order they showed the Mona Lisa, and the big reveal? The lovely Lisa holding the 9 of spades, which was the very card I’d picked out. Awesome. This was a fun trick too as just before we were talking about magic as an art-form and how few people today view it as such.

Seb He and Tom McMahon are the other two members of the act. Tarrant claims that they are the better close-up magicians, but says that his stage show, which he plans to take on the road in the future, is pretty good.  All three guys have to be a bit ballsy for their show to work. One of the best things about it is that it’s a really good introduction to the Fringe for people who wouldn’t normally go see something, and as it’s free there is nothing for someone to lose by rocking up to one of the venues (and there are a few of them). Before seeing the show I wondered if it was like a free walking tour overseas where they basically try to guilt you in to paying at the end. Thankfully, this is not the case. If you’ve enjoyed the show the best way for you to thank them is to log on to the Talkfringe site and give them your vote for best act. This is something that is working for them as they are currently, and deservedly, winning this competition.

The other great thing about the act is that there is the chance for personal interaction with the performers, something that most Fringe shows do not offer, in such relaxed circumstances. It isn’t like you’re sitting in a theatre watching someone known for having audience participation and just hoping that they don’t actually call you up for embarrassment in front of a crowd. Because you’re just chilling with your friends if there’s a question you want to ask there’s no need to feel scared to ask it; there’s no large crowd of strangers in front of whom to be embarrassed.

There is a thriving subculture of magicians the world over according to Tarrant, with big scenes in America and Europe, and to a lesser extent here in Australia. One of the aims of the show is for them to promote magic as something that’s still relevant today and that it’s not just about the cutting the lady in half gags that people do think of when they think of magic.

Some people do try to pick their tricks apart but I preferred just to watch and be impressed. Sometimes it’s more fun to believe in the magic than to figure out how it works. If you haven’t been to much for the Fringe this year, why not pop down to the pub with some mates and see Mindblown in action. It’s completely free and if you don’t like the tricks, you still get some beer. Dates and venues available on the Mindblown site, and if you do get along and enjoy the magic, why not give the guys your vote and help them take their show on the road.