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Review: Derren Brown - Enigma at the Congress Theatre
ANY fans of Derren Brown's TV shows were no doubt thrilled to find him at the Congress Theatre for three nights.
But anyone who is less than enamoured of his small screen appearances should give his live show a shot when he returns to Eastbourne.
The beard and the black suit were present and correct but, live, he is far more warm, funny and engaging and keeps the audience firmly in the palm of his hand throughout the three-hour show.
With his usual mixture of magic, suggestion, psychology, misdirection and showmanship, Brown had the audience 'summoning spirits', sleepwalking and even drinking a glass full of vinegar.
He is certainly skilled in creating an atmosphere in the theatre - with red velvet swags of material on stage, sound effects and strict warnings that pregnant women and children mustn't take part in some of the tricks some of the more sensitive members of the audience were quivering with trepidation.
One man inexplicably tried to ruin the fun by giving an incorrect answer at a crucial moment, but otherwise everything fell into place perfectly - leaving Brown skipping about the stage with glee and hundreds of jaws firmly on the floor.
He gives the audience a couple of reasons for the show's name - Enigma - but certainly part of the enigma is how to write about it without giving away any of the twists and turns after Derren implored reviewers to keep the details quiet.
But - in short - the show is funny and amazing in equal measures.
In the bar afterwards, a member of the audience confidently declared "It's all a set-up, isn't it?"
But, when his show is this entertaining, who would care if it was?
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Weather for Eastbourne
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 14 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: East
