The Genii Forum

A magician getting a review like that out of Ben Brantley, who regularly eviscerates Broadway plays like a madman with a huge knife, is truly astonishing.

Because Derren Brown IS astonishing. Of the current crop of mentalists he is, without doubt, among the best of the best and has taken the art to whole new level. While I have yet to see him in live performance, I've been watching his performances on video for the past 10 years or so and he continues to top himself again and again. Let's hope a US tour is in the future.

Hard work, a top-flight and highly rated support team, and a huge dollop of charm pays show business dividends.

Few are on Derren's level.

It's a great show - and his stage shows (of which I've seen the last three) far outstrip his tv in my view. His last but one show won the Olivier award for Best Entertainment from The Society of London Theatres - which is a prominence for magic in the theatre that hasn't been seen since the days of the Egyptian Hall, I suspect.

If I dared to have a complaint it's that he tends to out-Berglas Berglas with the final reveal in his closer. One or two layman I have spoken to about the show have also, unprompted, highlighted this as a concern (without mentioning Mr Berglas of course!).

Anyway - if you get a chance - see the show and judge yourself - you won't regret it!

Derren Brown is just extraordinary on stage. The best magic live performance I have ever seen... 2 standing ovations at the end!!