Keith Brown is not a new name at the Ottawa Fringe – a couple of years ago he made a name for himself here with his easy going stage presence, mind-boggling tricks, and dashing smile – and with Hotter than Potter he keeps up the gold standard that those who have seen him perform before have come to expect.
I won’t go into too much detail about which tricks are performed (though I will say there’s some focus on his ability to function as a human lie detector), since most magic tricks work better when you have no idea what to expect. There’s a high level of audience participation in this one – sitting in the back row won’t keep you safe, Brown will pick you even if you’re trying to avoid eye contact – and Brown knows how to keep the audience engaged, not just through his persona and obvious skill, but also through the giveaways that occur throughout (the show ended with cake!).
The main thing that struck me about this show was how quickly the hour-long running time zipped by. Hotter than Potter is a barrage of trick after trick, with Brown never dropping energy as from one part of the show to the next (even having spent 8 hours on a bus to Ottawa earlier that day).
There’s really not much else to say about Hotter than Potter. Keith Brown is a skilled illusionist and an engaging entertainer who will pull you in and mystify you with a cocky smile on his face. There are definitely a few magic shows at this year’s Fringe, but this one is not to be missed.
Created and Performed by Keith Brown
At La Nouvelle Scène – Studio B (Venue 5)
Running Time: 60 minutes
Wednesday 14 June 6:00pm
Thursday 15 June 7:00pm
Saturday 17 June 1:30pm
Sunday 18 June 7:00pm
The New Ottawa Critics 
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