Writers: Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer and Henry Shields
Director: Hannah Sharkey
We know from their previous work that if you want a belly laugh at absolute silliness, then Mischief Theatre are going to provide you with just that – escapism and entertainment in its most enjoyable form. It started with students from the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art Jonathan Sayer, Henry Shields and Henry Lewis coming together as comedy performers and it went on to gain a huge following and fanbase – shooting to fame with the farcical and fantastic (not to mention award-winning) The Play That Goes Wrong. With plenty of other shows under their belt – including Peter Pan Goes Wrong and BBC’s The Goes Wrong Show – the latest to come to Manchester Palace Theatre is Mind Mangler: Member of the Tragic Circle direct from the West End and a spin-off of Magic Goes Wrong.
Audience members who have been with or heard of Mischief for a while now will not be disappointed with this latest piece of hilarity. With Lewis as the central character the Mind Mangler, it has striking similarities in format to the likes of Derren Brown and acts you may have seen on Britain’s Got Talent – the fast pace, the recognisable magic tricks, the stunts, the audience participation – just with less suspense and far more stupidity (in the nicest sense of the word).
When you come into the auditorium for the first time, you are told the Mind Mangler is going to become a human lie detector and you are asked to write a secret about yourself and place it in one of the boxes at the front of the auditorium. You are also asked if you can predict the four digit code to open the safe. There are a variety of sketches as well – including Machine vs man, predicting colours, being locked into an enclosed space, Quick Fire Jesus (get ready to howl at this one) and the well-known ‘think of an object and write it down and we will come back to it at the end of the show’ ask of an audience member. Now, without giving anything away, it can be said that the outcomes vary, in hilarious and ridiculous ways.
The set is reminiscent of a comedy night set-up – with lights all around the stage and a big projection on the back – that predominantly hosts the show’s name, but that intermittently will shine a spotlight on an audience member (beware!) and that also may show you some private web browser pages of the protagonist.
What is wonderful about this show is that no production will ever be the same – every audience is going to experience something different. And it takes some talent from the performers to run with that each night – remembering new names, new ‘in jokes’, new material (this isn’t just learning a script to get some laughs) that make audiences feel they are in on something special and unique.
On the ATG website, one of the reviews highlighted does insinuate that this show would also be suitable for younger audience members as well. Now it’s entirely at a parent’s discretion, but do note and be aware there is a fair bit of swearing throughout the evening.
With some tricks going absolutely right and others having you falling off your seat laughing, it’s safe to say the title is far from wrong on this occasion – your mind will be well and truly mangled. But what it will also be is desperate for more from these innovative and clever creators. One of the best pieces of live entertainment on the theatre scene right now, these performers are less members of the tragic circle and more members of a genius circle. Together, in a time where there has been a lot of uncertainty and stress in the world, they have created something so special with pieces of theatre where you can truly relax, unwind, join in and belly-laugh like a child again, without taking life too seriously. Get ready to have your mind (mind, mind, mind) well and truly blown.
Runs until 18 May 24.
The Reviews Hub Score
Mind Blowing!
