There has always been a tether between stories and magic. Without the narrative around an illusion, it becomes merely a trick. We want to be guided and, for fleeting moments, to feel the awe and wonder that there may be something beyond our corporeal world. We don’t really want to know how the trick is done, whether it is simple or not. Rather it’s through theatre and storytelling that these tricks become truly compelling, writes Leo Dunlop.
This is something David Alnwick clearly understands in his new show The Signalman. The writer, actor and magician collides magic with Dickens, luring the audience back into a Victorian world where the supernatural felt very much alive. There could hardly be a more fitting venue than Wilton’s Music Hall, whose decaying walls and faded grandeur deepen the mystery before Alnwick has even stepped on stage.
Alnwick charms and astonishes the audience in the first half with card tricks and seemingly impossible readings of audience members. Weaving together the life of Charles Dickens, Victorian spiritualism and the era’s fascination with the supernatural, Alnwick paints a world that allows the audience to surrender to the spectacle. Plenty of magicians can deceive an audience; what Alnwick understands is that it is the story surrounding the illusion that transforms it into something magical.
In the final act, Alnwick strips everything back to a single story: The Signalman, written by Charles Dickens in 1866. There is a wonderful simplicity in being told a story. It is one of humanity’s oldest rituals, and one we so rarely experience in modern life. Alnwick finds a beating heart in Dickens’ language, holding the audience on every word. I found myself closing my eyes, allowing the story to conjure its own images upon my mind.
The Signalman is a show that transports you to another time and keeps the whole family captivated throughout. No doubt we will see more of David Alnwick and his magic in the future.
Wilton’s Music Hall, 1 Graces Alley, London, E1 8JB until 1 July 7pm. Extra date 3rd September.
Tickets from £12.50 – £27.00 full price, £10.00 – £24.50 concessions
Booking: www.wiltons.org.uk and 020 7702 2789
Running time: 90 minutes, no interval.
Suitable for ages 12+. Under-16s must be accompanied by an adult.
Check David Alnwick for future dates: https://www.instagram.com/david.alnwick/
