Created and Performed by Mario Marchese

It’s the end of the Festival Fringe. Everyone’s a touch tired, even a bit grumpy.  

What we could all do with – is a touch of magic. And oh my, what an injection of life, creativity, and some down-right cheek to get us through the final gates of August and leave audiences with a spark of imagination to head back into the world outside of the Fringe.

Within a large box marked “Robot Magic” on the Underbelly Cow centre-stage, a world of crafty and imaginative robots, slapstick, touching moments, and heaps upon heaps of comedy and thrills for audiences of all ages (but with a focus on the three-plus range). Exploding alongside the contents is Mario, our host, magician, creator, and all-around entertainer for a solid fifty-minute slice of irresistible fun.

Well-structured farse, there’s an undeniable charm and skill to Marchese’s routine beyond the terrifically creative illusions and creations: Mario the Maker is as much a piece of clownery and chaotic energy as it is its magic. Casting their mischievous charm and creative concoctions all around the room, the show may possess the usual (though still impressive) use of sleight and misdirection, but Marchese still infuses a sense of wonderment and appreciation of the great inventors and artists before us with references to Nicola Telsa, high school teachers, and Andy Warhol. It’s a touching addition to the routine which encourages the youngsters to pursue their passions and not to be afraid of using what little they have surrounding them to invent new things and ways to help out.

A bright comedy of trial and error, each (deliberate) mishap and mistake grounds Marchese with the audience. He may be a master magician and inventor, but he’s just like everyone else. Mario the Maker surges with a passion and creativity enviable to the best of the magic circle. It’s a show which could easily be a returning Fringe favourite, one to enchant new generations with the thrill of magic, but equally the enjoyment and appreciation of innovation.