FOR well over a decade Derren Brown has been wowing audiences with mind-bending psychological illusions that have earned him a reputation as one of the country’s most exciting entertainers.

His stage shows have been highly acclaimed, and so for fans of his work – or for those who have managed to miss out on his performances thus far – his Underground tour wraps up the best.

Some of the audience at the New Theatre on Friday and Saturday were likely to have seen some of the illusions on offer before, but it did little to dull their excitement or enthusiasm.

Brown knows how to work a crowd, little surprise after so long on the circuit, and his endless energy, sharp wit and good-natured patter warmed Friday’s audience up quickly.

Then it was time for the work he is best known for, his startling ability to read someone’s mind based on body language that is imperceptible to everyone else.

There were plenty of classic tricks too, and although some have been around for decades Brown pulled them off with a unique panache.

But for all his skill as a showman and the range of illusions on offer the overall show fell a little flat. While some of the segments were both impressive and mind-blowing others seemed too obvious.

At points, while some of the crowd were obviously stunned by Brown’s latest trick, it felt that others had been left rather underwhelmed.

There is always a risk, when showcasing a decade of stage performances, that the material seems stale.

That, however, was not the shortcoming. It was not that some of the illusions lacked spectacle because they had been seen before, but rather that they seemed a little old-fashioned and dated.

None of that took away from Brown’s performance,and for every illusion that felt less than impressive there was another that showed just why he has been so successful both on stage and on screen.

There are far worse ways to spend a night than being entertained by an old-fashioned showman with a set of tricks that will, at the very least, give you something to think about.

But Underground fell some way short of a truly spectacular experience. 3/5.