#oneaday, Day 57: Look into the Eyes

Jane and I went to see Derren Brown's "Enigma" show at the Mayflower in Southampton tonight. We'd had tickets for ages – since shortly after Jane went to see the same show in London in the summer of last year, in fact – and the time had finally come around to see it. It was also my first visit to the Mayflower, so I was curious to see how our local theatre actually was inside. (Quite nice, as it happens.)

I won't spoil any of the show here, but suffice to say it is his usual blend of different types of "WTF?!" moments. By the end of the show you're left so dazed and bewildered by the whole experience that you can't help asking yourself (and anyone you happen to be with, and anyone who will listen) a whole ton of questions for which there are no easy answers. He certainly has the art of the magician – of making the impossible seem possible – even if what he does isn't exactly "magic" in the traditional sense – it is a blend of, as he puts it, "psychology, hypnosis, suggestion and showmanship".

Jane and I have been fascinated with Derren Brown for many years now. He has a compelling, likeable style to his shows with just the right balance between cheekiness and seriousness to draw you in and keep you there. He doesn't take himself or his hapless victims too seriously, but nor is he too flippant. He's also more than willing, in some cases at least, to share the "trick" with you – though as last year's The Events TV show (where he correctly predicted the lottery numbers) clearly demonstrated, sometimes explanations raise more questions than they answer.

It's certainly a pretty unique, impressive and intellectually stimulating form of entertainment that he puts on show, and I'd encourage anyone who's not familiar with his work to explore it for yourself. His "Trick of the Mind" TV series is available on DVD now, as are a number of his one-off "specials". Plus, if you're in the UK, you can check out Derren's shows on YouTube thanks to their agreement with 4OD right here.

I won't say anything else as it will be far too tempting to get into spoiler territory. Suffice to say, though, that the Enigma show is well worth checking out if you get the chance.