Assigned Magician at Birth review (Melbourne Fringe Festival)

We all have a part of ourselves we don’t present to the outside world, the secret self that we don't want anyone to know about. Tricksy Collins has been doing that for many years. She has been an award-winning comedian but … also a professional magician. Quelle Horreur!!! But she’s ready now to publicly embrace the title of magician and in Assigned Magician at Birth, she talks about the magic community and the challenges of trying to fit in when something is not quite right.

Collins is completely in her element and while there are some nerves apparent in the opening moments, her rapport with the audience quickly has them onside and she begins to enjoy herself with her acts and her audience even more so.

Billed as a magic show, she finds opportunity to remind us that she is still a skilful comedian and the jokes and humour shine through, including her recollection of being invited to perform as a magician at a Halloween party with a rather peculiar concept request.

But this goes much deeper than just magician/comedian interrogation. The entire show is an allegory on Collins’ trans experience and how realising who she is has impacted her life – both positively and negatively. It’s subtle but powerful sharing of her experience and a very moving one at that, with a number of audience member wiping away tears.

There is a build up to each of her tricks, and each one of them can be related back to her identity. There’s one particularly excruciating act set at a social event where Collins must deal with peoples' need to acknowledge and affirm who she is. It’s one of those you can’t look, but you can’t not look moments as we virtually feel the anguish she is going through. This is brilliantly featured again later on and further emphasises both Collins’ genius and the issues she faces.

Hopefully Assigned Magician at Birth is a sign we’re going to be seeing a lot more of Collins embrace her magician identity (with more shows) and the beginning of Collins having a smoother life as a trans woman.

SHOW DETAILS

Venue: Trades Hall, Cnr Lygon & Victoria Sts, Carlton

Season: until 20 October | Wed - Sat 8:45pm, Sun 7:45pm

Duration: 55 minutes

Tickets: $26 Full | $24 Conc

Bookings: Melbourne Fringe Festival

Image credit: Alexis D. Lea