RedFest ends on a Double Bluff

Nearly 1000 shows later as a magical duo, Brendon Peel and Li Lau are nowhere near slowing down their Double Bluff showmanship, which absolutely electrified the Len Miller room as this year’s closing act of Redfest.

Although this was the pair’s first presentation of Double Bluff, they’re no strangers to the Morningside-based arts festival.

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“This is our favourite platform here in Joburg; we love the fans, and the people who come here,” said Peel after the incredible show. “This is the first time that we’re bringing this show here; we’ve done the National Arts Festival, and we’re doing the Hilton Festival. We’ll 100% be back next year if they’ll have us.”

Peel and Lau were thoroughly engaging, entertaining, and a sheer thrill to watch with an open mind. Peel’s mentalism and magical prowess pair exceedingly well with Lau’s exotic sideshow acts, and daredevilry.

Lau’s feats included breaking a whole deck of cards in half, willingly subjecting his fingers to a beartrap, swallowing a balloon – and popping it while still inside his body, and, finally, escaping from a straightjacket in under 90 seconds, while wearing a plastic bag over his head. If anybody had any doubts that Lau has earned his nickname, ‘One Crazy China’, then those were immediately allayed by his breath-halting exhibitions of escapology and wonder.

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After the show, Lau spoke about his journey working with Peel.

“We’ve known each other for ten years. I actually reached out to him in 2014; that’s when we first sort of met up,” said Lau. “In 2015, we started working together for the first time on a few smaller shows. Our big, main show was in 2018 called Carnival Sideshow, and other magical things at the National Arts Festival. That’s where I made my debut, with the help of Brendon, and we did our first duo performance together.”

Every child in the audience wanted to be a stage participant, and it’s possible that most parents were simply holding in their own eagerness to participate, to allow their children space to fully enjoy the experience.

The show ended with Peel shooting a coin with a slingshot through a glass shield, and Lau catching it with his teeth, before pushing it through his nose.

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