By Ethlie Ann Vare
HOLLYWOOD, CA (June 6, The Hollywood Times) – Magician and mentalist Benjamin B. specifically asked the audience at the first preview of his new Fringe Fest show not to post any spoilers, but I will not spoil any of his tricks. I will just reveal that there are tricks. The Anti-Magic Magic Show is in fact a magic show.
This was one of the first previews in this year’s Hollywood Fringe Festival, filling this cute, 50-seat black box theater around the corner from the Guitar Center. I’m a big fan of the Hollywood Fringe Festival, which believe it or not will be 20 years old in 2027. That makes it technically vintage, but it feels as young and edgy as ever. It is a terrific opportunity for emerging artists to find an audience and for audiences to find them, plus all the proceeds from ticket sales go to the artists. Fringe 2026 runs June 11–28, with an Opening Night party on June 10 and an Awards Ceremony on June 29. There will be more than 480 shows and over 2,150 performances in all, spanning comedy, drama, immersive, clown, musical theatre… and magic.
I’m also a fan of magic, and even though Benjamin B. says this show was for people who do not like magic – people who have been disappointed by it and sworn never to go to a magic show again – I came. “If you saw a bad singer, would you give up music forever?” he asks. And yet, he says, people see a bad magic show and swear never to go see magic again. In fact, he starts the show by reading a sheaf of one-star reviews by people who swear never to see a magic show again.
Even before he takes the stage, the show kicks off with an old Jerry Seinfeld routine about how magic just makes you feel stupid. And Benjamin B’s magic did make me feel a little stupid, honestly. But that’s just because he’s good at it. This is a guy who designs tricks for other magicians, magicians you’ve heard of. David Blaine, Colin Cloud, Dan White. Probably a few staying anonymous.
I went through the 50-minute show with solutions at the edge of my brain, but some of the tricks I never could quite figure out. And I’m pretty smart. “Okay, he must have a confederate in the audience. But they can’t all be confederates.” “He must be forcing a number. But how?” “That had to have been swapped out. But when?” He’s slick. Not as a comedian – he’s kind of awkward as a comedian. But he has some fun things up his sleeve, literally or not.
If the $50 ticket price is too rich for your blood, discounts are available for Fringe participants and Magic Castle members. You can probably wangle discount seats by DM’ing @ben.ismagic on Instagram. If you go to the show, he will probably do card tricks for you on the street outside. It’s that kind of vibe. Which is why I’m a fan of the Hollywood Fringe Festival.
The Anti-Magic Magic Show starring Benjamin B.
Friday, June 12 11:30pm; Thursday, June 18 10:30pm; Thursday, June 25 10:30pm; Saturday, June 27 12:00 noon
The Hobgoblin Playhouse
1516 N. Gardner St. Los Angeles, CA 90046
(323) 591-4849
www.hollywoodfringe.org
