Review: Table for Two by Jack Kenyon Magic

Photo: Arthur Comely

Most of us are familiar with the feeling of nervous anticipation that comes ahead of a first date. The eagerness to make a good impression, the hope that you connect in real life, and the desire to finally delete the dating apps all make that initial meeting a daunting prospect, even for the most battle-hardened singletons.

Table for Two, which has been created by Magic Circle member Jack Kenyon and his long-time partner, Isabelle Dooley-Carmichael, frames an hour of magic around those feelings as Kenyon attempts to right the wrongs of past relationships (all of which were documented by an ex in a national newspapers agony aunt column) while trying to impress his latest date, who is chosen at random from the audience and remains on stage for the show's duration.

Featuring a mix of mentalism and sleight-of-hand tricks, Table for Two moves along at a brisk pace once Kenyon's date has been selected, with each illusion woven into a loose narrative surrounding the show's central premise. Drinks materialise out of thin air, the pair get to know each other better through acts of mentalism, and Kenyon's insistence on picking up the bill has banknotes transform in front of the audience's eyes.

Alongside the on-stage participant, other audience members are recruited for tricks throughout, tasked with sketching their ideal first date, shuffling cards and noting down what the couple orders from an extensive menu throughout the show, which allows for those not on stage to still be involved, albeit to a lesser degree than the audience member on the date.

It's all solidly performed, and Kenyon is clearly a dab hand when it comes to close-up magic. Still, on the night we attended, a few of the tricks didn't land and were abandoned midway through, and the show's on-stage participant was unsure of how to respond at certain points. That uncertainty created moments of genuine awkwardness which, while perhaps appropriate for a first date, didn't always feel intentional and occasionally interrupted the show's otherwise smooth rhythm.

To Kenyon's credit, he took these stumbles in his stride and wasn't phased when things didn't go according to plan, but the decision to have the same audience member on stage for the show's duration does make Table for Two particularly vulnerable to the chemistry between performer and participant. While a confident, playful date has the potential to elevate the show considerably, a more reserved person may unintentionally dampen its momentum and stretch its premise.

Table for Two is an inventive concept that successfully blends close-up magic with the optimism of modern dating, and Kenyon has the charisma and technical skill to make much of it work. While it highlights the challenges of building a show around audience participation, there's enough charm, originality and impressive sleight-of-hand here to make for an enjoyable show, even if it never quite pulls off being something truly spectacular.

★★★

[Tickets gifted in exchange for an honest review]

Reviewed at The Glitch in London at a WIP performance.

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Jack Kenyon Magic's Table for Two runs at Haldane Theatre at theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall (Venue 53) until 29th August 2026 at 21:40. For more information and to book tickets, visit edfringe.com