The Mind Mangler (Henry Lewis, left) and his assistant (Jonathan Sayer) argue during a trick involving a Ouija board in Mind Mangler: A Night of Tragic Illusion.
Mind Mangler: A Night of Tragic Illusion is a new parody from the creators of The Play That Goes Wrong—this time aimed at magicians. The production is about the relationship between a magician and his stooge, played by Henry Lewis and Jonathan Sayer respectively, who cowrote this show as well as Play That Goes Wrong with Henry Shields. While Mind Mangler easily segues back and forth from a spoof of a magic show to actual sleight of hand to a dramatic story involving the two leads, not all its parts are equally successful.
The Mind Mangler and his assistant select audience volunteers. Photographs by Pamela Raith Photography.
As in The Play That Goes Wrong, the performance begins before anyone takes the stage, as assistants collect audience “secrets” for the Mind Mangler to use. Like a real magician, Lewis’s title character chooses members of the audience, and they become participants. The Mind Mangler is a half-good magician, and the show revolves around this conceit; its magic charms the audience with sleight of hand, and as a parody of a mediocre magician, it entertains with colorful turns of phrase, an endless slew of one-liners, and of course his actively incompetent tricks.
Director Hannah Sharkey executes the script with confidence, and Lewis and Sayer embody their roles with the same dramatic, over-the-top flourishes that helped catapult The Play That Goes Wrong to international fame. Some of the jokes are designed for the Mind Mangler to look proficient, others to make him look like a moron—misspellings, obvious attempts to trick the audience, technical difficulties. There’s a humorous pun here and a loud, thick accent there, and gags involving the repetition of music and lighting cues over and over are laid on thick; their impact wears off quickly. If one enjoys this style of humor, the show is thoroughly entertaining, but if one doesn’t, then it falls a little short.
The Mind Mangler locks himself in a refrigerator during an escape trick that goes awry.
One effective scene of ineptitude centers on a Ouija board:
Mind Mangler: I… C… I see… A… N… I can… T… I can’t… R… E… M… E—You can’t remember what you’re supposed to say.
Steve: It’s gone.
Mind Mangler: You’re the worst stooge in the world.
Steve: Shhh! Don’t tell ‘em I’m the S T U J.
Certain gags, like a particular mind-reading machine and a clairvoyant array of Rubik’s cubes, also work. Most of the magic tricks are impressive, and some are downright inexplicable; the show’s highs in respect to prestidigitation are numerous, and magic consultant Ben Hart undoubtedly deserves much credit for them. When the audience gets involved in Lewis’s tricks, or when he puts himself in what appears to be a potentially fatal situation, the stakes rise, and the hair on the back of one’s neck stands up. When the stakes aren’t as high, Lewis manages to make the magic engaging, but it’s in those swings for the fences that the show really shines.
“The show’s highs in respect to prestidigitation are numerous.”
The magic segments are hung on a thin plot thread: the relationship of Mind Mangler and his inept assistant Steve (Sayer). The story of their fractured connection crystallizes over time, but the show doesn’t make full use of their acting prowess. The script draws a clear contrast between the characters and the playmakers: both Lewis and Sayer have written themselves opportunities to display their improvisational skill by interacting with the audience. They not only turn those moments into effective pieces of crowd work but also into recurring jokes. These are some of the more effective bits, but the humor that otherwise doesn’t work is left to wobble in the absence of a clearer focus. Still, these virtuosic moments are refreshing amid the lesser humor, and the magic is made even more impressive by the fact that, before this, Lewis has apparently not been any more a magician than the next thespian.
The production is helped by Helen Skira’s crisp sound design; it’s loud, like a rock concert, and serves the script’s immersive nature. The scenic and lighting design, by Sara Perks and David Howe respectively, dazzle as well. Video designer Gillian Tan contributes a series of prerecorded gags and carefully choreographed live cinematography.
Even though Mind Mangler doesn’t really seem to have something to say, it does show that “Life can be fun”—and maybe that’s worthwhile enough.
Mind Mangler: A Night of Tragic Illusion runs through Dec. 18 at New World Stages (340 W. 50th St.). Evening performances are 7 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday; matinees are at 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. For tickets and more information visit mindmanglernyc.com.
Playwrights: Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer & Henry Shields
Director: Hannah Sharkey
Sets: Sara Perks
Costumes: Roberto Surace
Lighting: David Howe
Sound: Helen Skiera
Video: Gillian Tan
Music: Steve Brown
Magic: Ben Hart
