Penn & Teller have been working together professionally for almost as long as I’ve been alive. It feels like just yesterday that their 90s show, The Unpleasant World of Penn & Teller, made them seem like the future of magic. Their tricks were daring and risky, and their irreverent personalities contrasted with the traditional magic of previous generations. However, the future doesn’t last forever. Penn & Teller are no longer the enfant terribles of the magic world. Yet, their new show starts with a playful mockery of their own aging, as they escape from their dressing gowns and rocking chairs, and emerge youthful and energetic to present the rest of the show.
The intention is to humorously dismiss the notion that Penn & Teller are past their prime. And indeed, the following two hours demonstrate that they still have plenty of life left as Las Vegas legends. However, their show, known as the First Final UK Tour, now feels like a very traditional magic performance, the kind that up-and-coming magicians today may challenge.
The issue is that magic, unlike other art forms, relies heavily on novelty, surprise, and the constant raising of stakes. It’s not enough for magicians to come on stage and impress with a series of flawlessly executed and often bewildering tricks, which is exactly what Penn & Teller do tonight. What they fail to deliver is something bigger, fresher, or more surprising than what they’ve done in the past. For magicians, this can feel like a step backwards. They must continuously outdo themselves just to maintain their position.
Instead of groundbreaking material, Penn & Teller offer an enjoyable compilation of their greatest hits, featuring several new interpretations of old tricks. You may have seen the Russian roulette stunt before, with bullets in guns or nails hidden under paper cups. However, P&T’s innovation is replacing these props with Teller himself, wrapped in foil, alongside four additional Teller replicas. Penn then wields a giant mallet, striking each of the Tellers’ heads except one. It’s entertaining, and the achievement remains a delightful mystery, even though it’s a minimal variation on a familiar trick.
Teller (left) and Penn perform in Wolverhampton in June. Photograph: Jason Sheldon/Junction10/Shutterstock
There are moments of novelty throughout the show, although they often accompany routines that feel disposable. One such instance involves a front-row participant being faced with Penn & Teller’s sock-clad feet, which may provoke some discomfort for her. Yet, for the rest of us, it’s easy to appreciate the card trick that showcases sleight-of-foot rather than sleight-of-hand. There’s also a clever set-piece in which Penn misinterprets Spanish-language
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