If asked to imagine a magician, most minds will conjure up images of a be-suited bloke in a bow tie and top hat, accompanied by a glamorous but silent female assistant. At first glance, Norvil & Josephine fit this description but the illusion is soon shattered in their mini magical musical Out of the Hat. Returning to The Well Walk Theatre for a third outing, it’s a fun production for all ages, stuffed full of songs, silliness and surprises.
The year is 1905 and sibling duo, Norvil & Josphine (Christopher Howell and Desireé Kongerød) are nervously getting ready to perform their magic act for the Grand Impresario. Impress him and there’s a residency at the prestigious Egyptian Hall Theatre at stake. The stage is set and the pair are well prepared, with an act handed down to them by their parents. It’s polished, it’s professional and it’s ever so traditional. There’s just one catch – Josephine isn’t so keen on the silent assistant role she’s been trained for, and is determine to break free from her box. Can Norvil preserve tradition or will his head be turned by sequins and panache? And what will the Impresario make of it all?
It’s much more than just a magic show, with a great story and some valuable messaging around being yourself. The songs (written by Micah Young) are witty and allow Howell to show off his classical singing skills, while Kongerød also impresses with her dance moves. There is, of course, plenty of magic along the way, with both performers pulling off the artful feat of making difficult stuff look an awful lot easier than it actually is. There’s also some effective audience participation, with opportunities for both adults and children to get involved in the action. (If you’re the sort of grown-up who squirms in the seat at this prospect, you might need to learn to make yourself disappear – The Well Walk Theatre is a teeny, tiny venue and avoiding the magician’s gaze is not necessarily the best way of keeping yourself safe!)
Although recommended for ages 6+ there were quite a few younger children in attendance on the weekend, all of whom were highly engaged throughout. There is also plenty in there to entertain the adults of the audience and even cynical t(w)eens. (Quaver purported to be unimpressed but spent much of the evening showing off her own magic tricks!)
Running at around 40 minutes, it absolutely whizzes by and could easily be a longer show. For all that it breaks with tradition, it very much conforms to the cardinal rule of entertainment – always leave the audience wanting more. (If we were to have one gripe, however, we did not enjoy being teased with sparkly tap shoes only to discover that the show did not actually feature any tap dancing!)
Overall, Norvil & Josephine’s Out of the Hat is a charming production that blends music, magic and a touch of the unexpected to create an entertaining afternoon of escapism for families. It’s well worth a trip to The Well Walk Theatre, which is a lovely venue with a welcoming cafe and a gorgeous little bookshop.
Out of the Hat runs at The Well Walk Theatre from 3 May to 1 June 2025. We received complimentary tickets to the 4pm performance on Sunday 4 May.