Cloud has you under his spell
TonIGHT I’ll be replicating the skills of Sherlock Holmes, declares Scots stage mentalist Colin Cloud. But you don’t have to have the second sight to know it isn’t the master detective the crowd are hoping the self-styled ‘forensic mind reader’ from Harthill matches up to.
But rather Derren Brown, a fellow traveller in the art of baffling illusion and mind trickery, who had all but cornered the market in sheer ‘How the hell did he do that?’ moments of spectacle until Cloud came along.
He doesn’t disappoint here with new show Dare. While he might not have reached the wow factor, high bar of Brown yet, he’s sailing awfully close.
Fast becoming a household name on both sides of the Pond after touring with The Illusionists on Broadway, as well as a host of headline grabbing TV appearances that included stunning the judges on America’s Got Talent, Cloud’s star is very much in the ascendancy – and it’s easy to see why,
Ticking all the boxes demanded of the genre today – the pumping stadium rock entrance, with the audience given Colin Cloud masks, the purpose of which will be revealed in the finale; a swaggering, charismatic stage presence, all trendy tattoos, punk haircut and a neat line in comedy ad libs; and, of course, an array of mind boggling stunts – Cloud has honed his skills in a series of Fringe shows over the past few years.
As his confidence has grown, so has his audience. Playing to packed houses, Dare is his slickest, and best, yet. Even if some of his prop magic could do with a bit more oomph.
But it’s in unpicking the minds of the crowd where he really excels as names, occupations, bank note serial numbers and iPhone security codes are revealed and delivered up with ease; with a toy cat thrown around the room to ensure random members of the audience become the subject for his skills.
Embarrassing moments and secrets are asked to be tweeted then revealed for checking later, in order to defy sceptics in the crowd in an hour that flies in.
The show’s title centrepiece revolves around a murder – Cloud’s own – which is to be carried out by the audience. Luckily, they don’t succeed. Just. Which is good news for those going along to see the rest of the run of this mesmerising, head-scratching, crowd-pleasing show.
Pleasance Courtyard until Aug 26