Things That Never Happen: Magic at the Fringe!

I haven't seen a magician at the Fringe before, though in fact Travis Bernhardt was here last year.   He tells how he chose to try to be one, because shy and nerdish, then explains that 'magic trick' is an oxymoron, and how some prefer such terms as effect or illusion.

Manipulating balls and cards, he dexterously confuses us on the meaning of 'one' and 'two' and 'left' and 'right.'   He gives two people money, buys bananas from them, and both have more money - too quick for me to figure out.   He has a white egg-shaped ball which is suddenly a real egg.   He does a bit of genuine (I suppose) mind-reading: which of five people wrote down where as a destination.  It's about interpreting body-language, I suppose.

The final third of his show is card tricks, seen in close-up on video, with audience members beside him to cut and shuffle.   "I've screwed this up recently," he remarks engagingly, but does not screw up.   Magicians succeed by skill and personality, and Bernhardt has both.