Shay Mace
Which kind of audience are we? The perfect and pure Saoirse Ronan? Or, as the Wisard puts it, the British man who makes fun of brown people, Sacha Baron Cohen? This is the first incantation we are taught by our spellbinding teacher and spiritual leader across this hour or surprisingly thoughtful, often absurd clowning. Loosely inspired by performer Julian Hernandez’s grandfather, this Cuban Wisard aims to spotlight themes of racial prejudice, exploitation under capitalism, and how society treats immigrants, all with a well-realised characteristic light touch.
Before you ask, yes I did drink his magical potion ‘the pouf’ that was passed around the audience without a second thought. Hernandez plays well on how audiences are sheepishly willing to fall into herd mentality, and this was a perfect example. Through his antics, we’re asked questions about what responsibility we have both as onlookers and active participants, both at shows and in the world. Change requires illumination, and as the Wisard teaches us, also often incantation.
Music floods through the piece both in humour and in striking, tender moments too, with Spanish-language, Cuban music becoming a thoughtful moment to reflect on the big themes that our teacher introduces. These moments do jar a little at a times in their segue, even though they are definitely still enjoyable. Our Wisard Jooby then serenades us with flutes while chastising us, and working out who among the audience might be worthy enough to become his apprentice. Great entertainment was sought from an unwilling audience member, who had decided to tell our Wisard less than ten minutes in that he wasn’t funny at all. Hernandez has great repose at retorting to unruly audience members, treating them with respect while highlighting their own arrogance at points in a careful tightrope walk of unspoken truths and laugh-out-loud comedy.
Hernandez, who has been in the news exposing racist abuse he has experienced while flyering in the streets of Edinburgh this month, carefully blends together humour arising from the audience interaction with a mirror that he holds up to each of us, to ask what spells we can cast in the world, which incantations we can sing together, and how we can respect one another and stand up for what’s right. Described as a ‘preternatural’ experience, I had to look that word up ahead of arriving for my appointment with the Good Doctor Jooby, and I can certainly say that Wisard is unprecedented, unexpected, and indeed, transformative.
Commitment to the clowning balances thoughtfully with something to take away from our time learning from the Wisard. Off-beat, thought provoking alternative comedy with a big heart.
Recommended Drink: Take a big sip of the magical pouf, at your own risk.
You can catch Wisard until August 30th (not the 18th) at Just Out Of The Box at Just The Tonic at The Caves from 21:20 (60mins). Tickets are available through the EdFringe Online Box Office.
Image Credit: Alexander Singer
Salvador Kent
Roe McDonnell
Hannah Hamilton
