Derren’s tricks always a treat
I’VE always given Derren Brown great reviews, but who’s to say the twisted genius hasn’t hypnotised me?
You wouldn’t put it past him. Brown has pulled off more mindblowing stunts than Evel Knievel.
We saw the best on 20 Years Of Mind Control: Live – from fleecing the bookies at Walthamstow Dogs to convincing one poor soul he was caught up in a real-life zombie apocalypse.
As well as genuine gee-whizz moments like Russian roulette, Brown throws in “carny tricks” such as walking on glass (a technique), turns the timid into heroes (hypnosis) and guesses Lotto numbers (no idea).
Some stunts feel like Beadle’s About with an A-level.
But Derren is deadly serious when he exposes fakes – the faith healers, “psychics” and other grief ghouls. He’s a world-class showman
Email me at: garry.bushell@ dailystar.co.uk or write c/o Daily Star Sunday, One Canada Square, London E14 5AP
whose performances are powered by intelligence and ambition.
But perhaps the greatest trick Brown ever pulled off was to convince us he’s not a magician.
The self-styled “psychological illusionist” clearly relies heavily on misdirection, suggestion and sleight of hand... all standard tricks of the magic trade. Derren used to do card tricks and upside down painting (like Pasquale).
He closed Sunday’s show with the nail in the cup trick – a live “health and safety nightmare” he promised, but in reality another magician’s favourite – involving surprised charity worker Reanna.
Like Penn & Teller, Derren lets us in on some of his secrets – such as subliminal messages – but never enough to spoil the fun.
Audiences are awed. “F*** me sideways!” gasped one woman after he fixed her eyesight.
But what impressed me most was the illusion that he once had a full head of hair. Just kidding.
What really impressed me most was Derren’s home.
With his stage props, devices and curiosities, it must be like living in Ripley’s Believe It Or Not.