This week, a touch of magic offers a tasty starter to the NZ Fringe shows you catch at BATS Theatre, the Hannah Playhouse or further afield (given time, place and culinary needs). Diary of an Aspiring Magician is over by 6.40pm.

With a title and publicity blurb that keeps our expectations low – and may put some punter off – the skills of Aidin Ralfe can only rise in our estimation. Of course we have seen a plethora of wondrous acts played out on TV and large theatre venues but here in the very intimate BATS Theatre Studio, on the small bare stage with no wings, flies, backstage or trapdoors, the exposure and jeopardy are somehow greater.

A very personable young chap with a ‘pre show’ taste for swallowing very long sausage balloons, Ralfe kicks off his show proper with a poetic rendition of the three cup, three ball trick, said to be the oldest in the historical record. It is still splendidly perplexing.

Likewise the three ropes trick. He starts and ends with long, medium and short lengths which we are free to examine closely, then equalises them, joins them, gives them no end … His small opening night audience is delighted to be baffled.

The old covering a glass with newspaper then punching it through the table trick is one many might have learned from a child’s activity book. But here he enhances it with a couple of judiciously plinking coins.

Card tricks at close quarters leave nowhere to hide and, being volunteered by the audience to sit at the table with Ralfe, I am closer than anyone. I have no idea how he does what he does. His patter is good too – e.g. the ‘student loan’ routine. And the challenge to ‘follow the money card’ leaves us happily amazed.  

Unfortunately his trick of entwining then separating two rubber bands does not translate, as planned, to the illusion with ropes and a woman. Rather than dig himself a bigger hole by trying it again and again he chooses to move on. Hopefully he’ll have it perfected tonight.

A final card trick saves the day – just. But even as you muse on the mystery of the vanishing gumboil, and when you know there is palming and pocketing afoot, the sleight of hands, not to mention of tongue and teeth, is impressive. 

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