Review by Katrina Couzens of Master of Delusions presented by Aaron Ducker

Aaron Ducker’s awkward and cynical persona is more reminiscent of a stand-up comedian than the slick, smooth magician that would normally command such a grand title as the Master of Delusions. But don’t be fooled. Or rather, do be fooled, because Aaron is a highly skilled sleight of hand artist (amongst other domains of magicianship).

Showcasing a range of tricks from his 10 years in the industry, Aaron puts together an entertaining show, taking his audience on a trip from the basic prop acts of his beginnings to a final piece of sleight of hand wizardry that was genuinely astonishing.

Aaron clearly enjoys bringing his audience up close, calling for many volunteers. All of whom, myself included, came away from the close encounter impressed, baffled, or both. For the trick I was lucky enough to be involved in, this was despite me already knowing how the trick was done, and the exact moment of misdirection to look for. It was still so smooth I missed it.

While Aaron insists he keeps his stand-up roots separate from his magicianship, the DNA is unmistakable, with observational wit littered throughout his magician’s patter. I think he could lean more into this, especially as a way to smooth the transitions between tricks.

Transitions were the main choke point of the act. Partly, the show was hampered by the space, with its small stage forcing Aaron’s equipment to be far offside, taking him away from the audience for half a minute at a time whenever he needed new pieces. While he was always able to recapture audience attention on his return to the stage, the breaks were jarring.

But overall, if you have a hankering for entertaining tricks well-executed, the Master of Delusions delivers.