The Family Hoffman’s Christmas Mystery Palace is this year’s family friendly show that’s playing all through the holidays at The MAC. The show concerns the travelling Magicians the family Hoffman. Consisting of the Father and 2 daughters they’re stuck touring the same old act to dwindling audiences. This all changes however when a trick goes awry and ‘Harold’ is selected to take part in a vanishing trick that he’s not supposed to be involved in. Harry is from a work house and not used to being treated nicely, so when Margaret (who runs his work house) hits on a deal with father Hoffman that allows him to take part in the show he is chuffed. Mr. Hoffman however reneges on the deal and whisks Harold away from Margaret and into a life of magic.
The show itself features some really classic big Vegas style illusions that are grand enough to impress youngsters and older ones alike. The stage rotates which makes for quick set changes but also helps summon the feel of the big top that the majority of the play takes place in. A simple story allows for the younger ones to easily follow what’s going on but has enough excitement and character development to allow us all to care what happens on the stage. A small band and a rhyming MC help bridge the gaps between scenes and set it all up in the first place, they also add to the musical numbers as the live music gives the songs more life and more energy.
The crowd I saw this with seemed to have about a 50/50 split of kids to adults of all ages and all seemed to thoroughly enjoy the show, with not too many babies crying and only a handful of toilet breaks. I took my own 4 month old and I have to say that the staff at the MAC where top class at helping out when dealing with kids, they went above and beyond to make sure that everyone was taken care of, I can see why they’ve won awards for being family friendly.
I would recommend this to anyone looking for a break from the usual pantomimes at Xmas, or perhaps looking compliment it. This is intelligent theatre for families, perfectly pitched at adults and kids alike, filled with songs, illusions and a small lesson about the importance of family.
