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Fringe Review: Ian D Montfort: The One “Britain’s Most Gifted Psychic?”

Ian D Montfort


Ian D Montfort
Presented by Sharon Burgess Productions
Reviewed 24 February 2014

Ian D Montfort (Tom Binns) is a New Age psychic from Sunderland. Making himself right at home straight away, he kicked off his flip-flops and scanned the crowd with ultra-perceptive twinkling blue eyes, perfectly fuelling the existing conspiracy theories. Prior to his entrance, speculation was rife amongst the audience as to why groups of friends had been separated, and people had been directed to sit in particular seats. (As the show was in the Cupola, I figured it was the usher’s schadenfreude).

From the get-go, the affected Ian D Montfort ensured we didn’t know where he was coming from. Messages from beyond the grave, star-sign guessing, and character assessments married seamlessly with dice and card tricks or talents (you decide).

Montfort’s overarching skill is making the audience feel at ease. With plenty of crowd involvement, he did not stoop to the oft-used depths of attack bordering on the too personal. Instead, utilising Montfort’s one-step-removed, easy-going persona, each interaction added to the humour and encouraged those who accept all they are told to be more wary.

Only the best international acts who fly-in, fly-out for the Adelaide Fringe make their shows flash with local aspects, which Ian D Montfort did credibly, demonstrating he actually gave a spirit-medium about where he was performing, and cared to find out a bit about this great place we call home.

Part clairvoyant, tarot reader, fortune teller, and spirit medium, and wholly witty, clever and entertaining, the psychic-cum-comic abilities of Ian D Montfort will leave you with a smile on your face but wondering whether you’ve just been punked or if he’s the real deal.

I was distracted only by the occasional glances at his watch, which for me added naught to his character, but ensured the show finished at its allocated time.

Ian D Montfort was commanding, mesmerising, compelling, and utterly hilarious; I laughed until my face hurt.

Hold your sides, to avoid splitting, and go and see Ian D Montfort.

(Yes, he knows you’re coming…)

Reviewed by Gordon Forester

Venue: Garden of Unearthly Delights – Cuppola
Season: 14 February – 16 March 2014
Duration: 1 hour
Tickets: $27 – $30
Bookings: Book through FringeTix online or phone 1300 621 255

 

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