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The Wayne Dobson Show
Haslemere Hall, Surrey
June 24th, 2022
Reviewed by Bob Gill
As Wayne explained in the opening of this unique
show, he had decided to hang up his mic for the public after doing a highly
successful show in front of 1500 people in Denver, Colorado nearly 20 years ago.
He’d assumed that lay audiences would not take to a paralysed magician with
impaired speech performing in a wheelchair; he’d preferred to go out on a high.
As it did for so many, lockdown provided an about-turn in his thinking, and he
performed a couple of low-key guest slots in shows for the public - and was
taken aback by the encouraging response he received. So he resolved to try out a
couple of full evening shows, to test whether there was, in his words, "Still an
audience for a weird act like me to bob up now and again. And it will be fun
finding out either way: I’ve no longer anything to lose, just the joy of
performing my favourite material for people who have come out to be
entertained".
He got his answer on this June evening, when an audience of mostly laypeople
bought tickets for a new "Wayne Dobson Show" at Haslemere Hall, a quaint,
intimate theatre. On the night it was over half-full, which was most reassuring
and produced a warm, welcoming atmosphere for the intimate show.
Opening with a series of filmed vox-pops with good luck messages from friends
such as Joe Pasquale, Brian Conley, Dynamo and Derren Brown, this segued into a
film that briefly but movingly charted Wayne’s career and personal life at the
hands of Multiple Sclerosis. When the screen fell to reveal Wayne onstage in his
chair, the welcome he received was both emotional and genuine.
Inevitably the audience members were agog to see how his speaking voice,
impaired by his condition, would hold up. Thanks to a decent mic and sound
system, they need not have worried; although impaired, his voice came through
loud and clear, and the show was away.
But what about the elephant in the room: how a paralysed former star would
perform magic? Sat onstage with his trusty sidekick, a slightly menacing-looking
Mike Sullivan, by his side he introduced the show with a brief, personal but
defiant speech about his condition and why he was doing the show. From there it
was into the action: his improvement on the classic ‘Tossed Deck’, in which the
spectator could first examine and shuffle the cards. This was his "Ultimate
Tossed Deck". Then he invited a spectator onstage, with whom he did a book test
("Economicon" by Al Smith, since you’re asking) before moving into his new
version of his marketed comedy routine "Sexted".
To give Wayne a brief break, the animatronic model of Ringo Rabbit, who’d
appeared on Wayne’s television series, bantered awhile before becoming the
stooge in a "Mastermind" TV quiz sketch ‘he’ had performed on that same series.
Then it was back to Wayne, with Mike acting as his hands, for a stage version of
"The Magic Square". To close the first half we were treated to guest pro Matt
Daniel-Baker with his brand of light-hearted mentalism. Matt returned to open
the second half, before Wayne got a spectator up onstage for the sponge ball
routine he’d done at the 1989 Royal Variety Performance, but without Wayne’s
trademark "Voices" bit; as he said himself, "those days are gone".
He did his extended ‘Do as I do’ card routine "Echo", complete with comic byplay
and sight gags, to a great reception. Following a T&R Newspaper gag with Mike,
the pair presented a charming story deck routine to a ‘Sam Spade’ voice-over, to
great acclaim; this was Wayne’s "An Englishman In New York", to a backdrop of
his Sam Shovel character from the TV series.
Wayne is well aware of the tightrope he is figuratively walking with a show like
this; rather than highlighting his condition to seek amazement that he was even
doing it at all, he preferred it that people appreciate it as a magic show, not
a tragic show. In this he largely succeeded, and the magic routines certainly
worked a treat, as did many of the comedy elements.
In fairness it was inevitable there were some glitches, and some technical and
timing niggles, but for the first time for 20 years in public, he must try not
to beat himself up too much. The essence of the show worked, better I’m sure
than could have hoped; the audience were most appreciative, patient and sweet,
with many well-wishers coming backstage afterwards to chat, catch up and just
express their love for what he’d done; several said they’d found the show
immensely moving.
So will Wayne do it again? He answered at the close of the show: "As long as I’m
able to put on a show like this, and there are lovely people like you to come
and watch me, I’ll keep doing this." Good for him; here’s to the next one.
© Bob Gill, July 2022
Additional thoughts. Wayne commented afterwards:
"So how did it go, performing for the public for the first time in 20 years? On
the whole the magic routines worked really well, as did most of the comedy
elements. But of course I’m alive to the fact that they were moved by the fact
of me performing gamely in a wheelchair; several laypeople said to me after the
show how moving they had found the show. In one sense that’s very sweet, but in
another it slightly frustrates me as I want the show to be well received on its
own merits; it’s a magic show, not a tragic show.
In fairness it was inevitable there were some glitches, and some niggling
technical and timing issues, but it’s been two decades, so I try not to beat
myself too much over that. And these are things that are easily fixed; my mind’s
already buzzing with some changes I want to make. But the essence of the show
worked, better than I could have hoped. And most importantly of all, physically
and mentally I felt fine throughout.
The theatre was over half-full, mostly of the public rather than magicians, and
the audience was most appreciative, patient and sweet. A load of well-wishers
came backstage afterwards to say hello, chat, catch up and just express their
love for what I’d done.
I closed the show by saying to that warm audience, 'As long as I’m able to put
on a show like this, and there are lovely people like you to come and watch me,
I’ll keep doing this.' And I meant every word of it."