Mind Mangler at Apollo Theatre

Mind Mangler astounds and amazes with pure silliness, providing both a comedy show and a magic show that are unlike any others.

From Mischief, the brilliant minds behind The Play That Goes Wrong, and a direct spin-off from Magic Goes Wrong, Mind Mangler arrives on the West End before embarking on its UK tour.

While Mind Mangler was only one piece of the ensemble variety performance that was Magic Goes Wrong, he is now back with his own show. It’s the most iconic part of the original line-up extrapolated to two hours.

Once again, writer and actor Henry Lewis dons the mantle of Mind Mangler while writer and actor Jonathan Sayer returns as The Stooge. And once again, these two are rib-achingly funny. Lewis’s patented brand of frustration, anger and incredulity is a cure-all tonic that can get any audience to almost fall out of their seats laughing. And it seems few can do gormless as well as Sayer.

The characters are given a little more depth and their relationship with each other is explored in greater detail, building a deeper narrative thread that ties the different tricks and magic segments together. It’s a fairly basic thread but it works, getting out of the way of the jokes and shifting emotional gears at just the right points to create aww-inducing moments.

But it’s all just a vessel for comedy. And yet again the Mischief team has written a comedic masterpiece. There isn’t a single joke that doesn’t meet their exceedingly high standards. Some audience participation bits could be tighter – but given the unpredictability, it’s still very well done.

With the Mind Mangler the least extravagant of the Magic Goes Wrong magicians, the show is pared down compared to its predecessor. It doesn’t have as big a set and it doesn’t have such epic moments and there’s less actual magic. And for the most part that’s fine, it doesn’t need it. But one can’t help but wonder what more adventurous staging could add to this already great performance.

Other than a few rude words, it’s as much a riot for children as it is for adults. The ticket price is also family-friendly. At a time when some new West End Shows are breaking the £200 price point for top-tier tickets, Mind Mangler has kept theirs at less than £70. And that perhaps is the real magic.

Jim Compton-Hall
Images: Pamela Raith

Mind Mangler is at Apollo Theatre from 14^th March until 28^th April 2024. For further information or to book visit the theatre’s website here.