“Courage isn’t a matter of not being frightened, you know. It’s being afraid and doing what you have to do anyway.”
Doctor Who
Ooh, a rare treat tonight, Constant Reader. It’s the televised version of illusionist and mind-reader Derren Brown’s latest stage show, Infamous. It’s the usual mind-bending mix of extreme headology, apparent mediumship and impressive memorisation.
Actually, it’s a bit of a mish-mash, this one. There doesn’t appear to be any overriding theme, and I’m not entirely sure what the relevance of the title – Infamous – is supposed to be. The finale is rather disappointing compared to the triumphant tying-up of, e.g., Svengali or Enigma.
But the core is still here, and it’s Brown himself who carries the show, instead of his various tricks and illusions. His personality alone, his showmanship, his manner, his way of working his audience – dear God, he’s astonishing. He does a screamingly funny impression of a Leeds medium at one point; it’s brilliantly lifelike as well as deeply satirical.
This is going to be a short review, I see. It’s because I have no more words. I could watch Derren Brown all day. And marvel that such a person could actually exist.
The English Student 