Brighton Fringe 2025
The Magic Lady
Freddie Hayes
Genre: character comedy, Puppetry
Venue: Wunderbarn, SpielgelGardens
Festival: Brighton Fringe
Low Down
Part of Brighton Fringe’s Weekend of Weird, The Magic Lady fires on all cylinders. An action-packed, hugely entertaining hour in the company of a disillusioned illusionist.
Directed by Mikey Bligh Smith
See it at Soho Theatre 21 June and Edinburgh Fringe 2025.
Review
Playing fast and loose with the conventions of magic and theatre Freddie Hayes’ latest show is worlds away from her 2022 break-out hit Potatohead. Then she was largely camouflaged as a giant spud, now she’s a velvet frocked diva with legs to her armpits, gold turban and a devilish snarl of a smile.
Magic Lady is a disillusioned magician’s assistant claiming the limelight for herself at last. With honky tonk vibes and an accent that ranges for miles she’s a big presence, flaunting her sensuality and full of attack. Involving the audience in her madness Magic Lady makes conspirators of us all as she reveals the secrets of her past in song, jokes and a filthy liaison with Houdini.
The show has a wonderfully haphazard edge held in check by the superb physicality of Hayes’ performance, from her bendy-legged gait to her laser-sharp gaze. As with the best clowns if things go wrong you use them. Bag of fudge breaks? Kick it into the crowd. Hat trick fails? Blame someone else. Misdirection and sleight of hand; theatre is all illusion after all.
Amidst the bouffon and fantastic puppetry that’s her special skill, Magic Lady is fiercely feminist and full of ‘Ovular Power.’ The Magic Circle allowed women to join in 1991, big of them huh?
Working the room, aware of the audience vibe (an afternoon crowd, not quite giving themselves permission get with it) Magic Lady strikes gold with Zoe, a willing and entertaining sidekick and gets everyone to join hands for an exorcism.
The introduction of other characters works best with Yorkshire rabbit, sad but giggly – perhaps deranged from living in a hat for years. Rabbit gives us a different view of Magic Lady and the switch to a quieter, more gentle pace is welcome. As with any magic show there’s bound to be a spectacular ending and some fumbling with fabric adds to the pleasure of a final, familiar trick done well. Cue lights, cue dancing, the Diva has her moment at last.
