‘Vaudeville Schmuck’ may be a solo performance but it is also a true variety show. Mat Ricardo juggles the stand-up comedy with the tricks just as effortlessly as he juggles the single-bladed Brazilian machetes. Ricardo’s personality, shining through in every minute of the thoughtful, funny storytelling, easily has the audience rooting for him during the dazzling juggling routines. A particularly old-school sequence, with a fedora shading the eyes and a gold-tipped cane blurring in and out of sight, could have seemed a little cheesy or outdated. Instead, it was jaw-droppingly impressive. Mat also treats us to some clips of his heroes, and a little insight into the history of this now rare form of entertainment. With this slick, original performance, Mat Ricardo is bringing vaudeville back in style.

Voodoo Rooms, 1-26 Aug (not 6, 13, 20), 5.35pm
tw rating 4/5 | [Pallavi Patel]