Review: Proust Effect, Fringe 2025

Eden Choi’s sleight-of-hand is world-class, even if the dinner-theatre setting has its quirks.

I’ll be honest, I’ve seen a lot of magic shows at the Fringe. I go in wanting to believe, ready to be swept up in the art and the science of it all. The truth is, however, that I’ve seen far more acceptable shows than I have genuinely good ones. I’ve also never seen an episode of Britain’s Got Talent. So, when I took my seat to see Eden Choi, a sleight-of-hand magician of BGT fame, I wanted to enjoy it but had absolutely no idea what to expect.

Exceeding my expectations

Happily, I really did enjoy it. The feats of close-up magic Choi pulls off are simply mind-boggling. I’m used to magicians producing cards and coins from thin air, but I’m not used to seeing it done so openly. You can see the back of his hand, the empty space around his fingers, and then a card flickers into existence. It’s a moment of pure, unadulterated ‘how did he do that?’ I’ve never before seen so many spinning canes appear from a simple piece of cloth; it was flawlessly executed and deeply impressive.

But Choi is more than a technical trickster. The acclaimed South Korean magician frames his show as a magical world tour, taking the audience on a journey from country to country. Each destination provides the backdrop for a new illusion, tying the performance together with a gentle, charismatic narrative that elevates it beyond a simple collection of tricks.

The venue

The venue itself is a huge part of the experience. I’d never been to The WU on George Street before, and I’m tempted to return after the Fringe. It’s a grand and stylish Asian restaurant, and for the show, I was sat at a table as if for dinner. The effect was one of watching a first-class, international magician perform a private show in a fancy restaurant. While I didn’t eat, many around me were enjoying their meals, which creates a rather unique atmosphere.

This dinner-theatre-style entertainment, once a staple, feels like a novelty now, and I can certainly see the attraction. The only downside is an obvious one: a dining audience isn’t always a captive one. When people are navigating cutlery, they aren’t necessarily giving the artist their full attention or able to applaud at the key moments. Choi’s intricate style of magic is one that absolutely deserves your focus; if you blink, you’ll miss the very thing that makes the trick so astonishing.

Overall

Nevertheless, I was enthralled from start to finish, and I hope my rowdy applause helped fill in any gaps left by the diners. This is a definite recommendation for this year’s Fringe. At just under an hour, it’s a perfect, low-risk gamble on a world-class talent. And if you’re a local, it’s a great excuse to check out a new city-centre spot. Recommended.