Reviewed Friday

The Story Two magicians – one who drives a four-inch nail into her face, the other an expert at legerdemain – meet circa 1888, marry, and yoke their professional talents to create a wildly successful, scam-ridden road show based on the Victorian fascination with mentalism.

Pros Full of dramatic flourishes and more than a little humour, Mr. & Mrs. Jones is pure, richly enjoyable entertainment. The two performers, professional mentalists themselves, work together as smoothly as a well-practiced card trick as they give demonstrations of mind reading, a journey to another dimension, and the like. The show succeeds in part by playing off the 19th century hunger for showboat spiritualism against our modern cynicism.

Cons The New Zealand accents mean you’ll miss a word here and there.

The Verdict The fun, unlike mentalism, is real.

Mr. & Mrs. Jones

You Rung? Productions, Christchurch, New Zealand

Plays in The Courtroom

Festival continues until June 29. Tickets/information: 613-232-6162

A dynamite performance by a most extraordinary lady who comes across as the voice and energy  of a Tina Turner, as well as all the brightest stars of Broadway Musical theatre, with a dash of spice and pepper and strong sexy singing that is absolutely brilliant. This is the show NOT TO MISS

Burnt at the Steak is a truly professional cabaret performance with lots of  interactive work with the men who had a great time (don’t leave your girlfriends at home, they will like this too) Note her “big fat daddy routine which was a spoof of blues and jazz singing with so much beautiful humanity and a good strong jazz voice. However,  Mme  Valentino can take on any rhythm, any kind of singing, any form of music, and make it her own. She is incredibly talented and a joy to watch.  The hour just  melted away in no time!!!  Thank-you  Ottawa Fringe for bringing her to us!

Run to the Academic Hall and get your ticket right now.

 

The show is created, produced and performed by Carolann Valentino