MYSTIQUE, at The Horseshoe, Blackpool Pleasure Beach, until November 13

AMANDA Thompson's powerful production, excitingly choreographed by Antony Johns, combines glorious illusions and spectacular Gothic costumes with intense ballads and off-beat comedy.

Mystique is performed in cabaret style in the Horseshoe Bar where Richard de Vere creates 20 stunning illusions involving elements of fire and water, including cutting a woman into eight pieces, a terrifying sequence with a circular saw and 'giving birth' to women.

Each spellbinding scene transports the audience into a fanciful world from acrobatics in the jungle and provocative Folies Bergere-type sets to funky dance rhythms.

The musical interludes are provided by a thoroughly competent Sasha Millard, but bewitching blond dancer Marc Lowther steals the show when he sings the title song.

Just as Richard de Vere is the Master of Illusion, Tom Bright, in his twentieth year with Amanda's Stageworks Company, is the Master of Laughter, providing lots of fun as a bungling magician in the Tommy Cooper mode, and a hungry-looking canine, Schnorbitz, makes a magical appearance.

Conjure up some tickets to this sophisticated and dazzling show and you won't be disappointed.

RUTH LOFT

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