How offensive can one comedian be? As offensive as Jerry Sadowitz. How brilliant can a magician be? Same answer.

While Sadowitz has been ranting his way through the bowels of comedy for years he has also built a respected reputation as a stage-magician.

Those who only know him from his shocking television shows, such as The People Vs Jerry Sadowitz and the Pall Bearers Revue, have only seen a cleaned-up version of his humour and half of his talent.

In front of a live audience there is no subject he will not approach, treat with utter disrespect and swear about with great fluency. While misogyny and his own sexual frustration are his most frequently visited subjects there are no sacred cows in his world. Everything and everyone is a target for his savage, politically-incorrect humour.

His unashamed intensity conveys considerable powers of intimidation which may have been why the Ashcroft Theatre was only half full last week.

But look beyond his firebrand humour and you will find a truly gifted magician. Aside from a few cheap prop gags his tricks are close-up sleight of hand work of remarkable sophistication and thus the Ashcroft theatre is too large a venue to be ideal.

A large monitor gave the audience a closer look as he pulled out a succession of brilliant tricks, mostly with a pack of cards.

He has every reason to be supremely confident of his legerdemain, having clearly put in years of practice when not thinking up new ways to shock and offend the rest of humanity.

For those with thick skins, broad senses of humour and a sense of wonder at skilful magic, Jerry Sadowitz is a very rewarding experience.

October 25, 2001 10:30