Rabbits Out of the Hat | Jackson's Lane

Rabbits Out of the Hat is a musical-comedy magic show devised and performed by Christopher Howell and Desireé Kongerød, and directed by Martin McDougall. The 60 minute show is packed with fantastic acts of magic, a lot of songs, an inspirational message, and even an empowering political agenda. However, it feels as though there is too many good ideas stuffed into the hat, and doesn't quite make the impact it sets out to. 

The sibling duo, Magician Norvil (Howell) and his assistant Josephine (Kongerød), have inherited their routine from their late parents, and are competing to be selected for a prestigious event at the Egyptian Hall. Set in 1905, the siblings adhere to societal norms, although Josephine often tires of the old routines, replacing them with her own impressive skills. Josephine, a secret suffragette sister, makes it a point to call for the right for women's votes on stage, and breaking out of the literal cage of being a mere assistant. As the siblings bicker, their perfectly planned routine begins to fall apart, as Norvil loses his control and confidence.

A magic show may not be the place that one would expect to see a plot-driven narrative, yet Howell and Kongerød have created a solid foundation that ensures this works. However, due to the short runtime, Norvil's big revelation about accepting himself can feel rushed and almost shoehorned into the last 5 minutes of the show. However, Josephine's suffragette arc is wonderfully played out on stage, and she quickly becomes the character audiences are rooting for; placing Norvil at a severe disadvantage from the get go. In a traditional play, this would be a clever choice, however as the main magician, this does make it harder for audiences to be wholly mesmerised by the character. 

However, the show finds itself facing another obstacle: the songs. Whilst the songs themselves are well-written and showcase the performers' talents, there are far too many songs in the hour long show. The show resembles a sung-through musical, with the tricks placed between songs, thus outweighing the magical element of the show. Micah Young's original songs are lovely but perhaps belong to a different show, as several of the younger audiences members were noticeably restless during these long numbers. The title song, Rabbits Out of the Hat, written by Susan Earl and composed by Young, however was well placed and really lead the show into a triumphant finale. 

Although this is not quite the production's fault, the energy levels were noticeably low from the audience with the two performers having to repeat several lines to receive engagement, which did dampen the show as a whole. To clarify, this was never in regard to the magic tricks or the performances, but perhaps the lack of understanding of the lyrics and narrative that did seem to lose the younger audiences' collective focus.

However, for all the weaker elements of the production, the show went full throttle in its magical quality. Howell and Kongerød, both well established magicians, were both excellent. Howell's showmanship was remarkable, as was his ability to flawlessly pull off a number of magic tricks and cater to the entire audience. Howell's performance as he slowly loses confidence whilst reflecting this in his magic skills was impressive as well as his singing. Kongerød shines on stage as her flexibility knows no bounds, and her passion for women's rights had even the youngest of audience members rallying behind her. Kongerød's trick with the broom was easily the show's standout moment and really cemented the magic portions of the show as astoundingly brilliant.  

Kongerød, Emma Burton and Emma Wee have designed costumes that are historically accurate and striking to see. In keeping with the themes of the show, these grand and stark costumes are soon stripped away or changed into more practical and/or bedazzled ones that allow the characters to come into their own. Andrew Lay's lighting helps create a sense of wonder, as does Howell's sound. Lay also doubles as the show's technical stage manager. Rosie Clark's design for the cabinet that kick-starts the show provided audiences with grand and fascinating spectacle. Jake Evan's set design, with the wings and backdrop which all resemble circus interiors, is a nice touch. Ben 'Bailey' Simmons' tap choreography for Howell is exciting and beautifully completes Kongerød's many other styles of dance that are performed throughout the show. Last but certainly not least, Jeff McBride is the magic consultant for the show, and this element of the show remains it's strongest. 

Rabbits out of the Hat takes a traditional magic show formula and mixes it up to create this magical musical comedy; offering audiences, young and old, to partake in something unique. 

★★★☆☆ (3*)

Gifted tickets in return for an honest review