Uri & Me
An obsessive deconstruction of the spoon-bending icon/oddball that we all know and love.
Nathan encourages us to think twice before accepting the ridiculous claims of mystical pretenders.
Wow, I just discovered Nathan Penlington! His latest show is simply supernatural! And Nathan delivers it with mystical sensitivity. I highly recommend it!
I was born in the late seventies into a world in the grip of Geller mania, but it wasn’t until I was given a magic set at the age of eleven (coincidently, Uri’s favourite number) that I became interested in the paranormal and the unexplained. This began a lifelong curiosity in the world’s most famous psychic, a notorious cultural icon that has produced poetry, novels, board games, crystal jewellery, a folding bike, teddy bears, and a pop album.
Uri Geller wrote in 1987: “If I could write a book exposing myself as a fraud and a charlatan I would readily do so. But unfortunately I cannot do this because the things that have happened to me… are real”.
Uri & Me makes those things – “telepathy, clairvoyance, ESP, dowsing for oil, bending metal” – real for you too. All of Uri Geller’s apparent skills are demonstrated onstage using members of the audience, enabling them, for five minutes at least, to feel the amazing psychic power possessed by Uri Geller. I even put my life on the line by performing a death-defying motorbike stunt.
Things get weird
During my time of researching and previewing the show in 2010, Uri Geller caught wind of the show. Uri is famously litigious and attended an early London performance of Uri & Me in the company of his lawyers. But to everyone’s surprise, especially mine, Uri didn’t press a lawsuit.
Instead he invited me to lunch at his house. In return I’ve taken Uri to meet my mum and dad. In a further twist to the story Uri has given me eleven shirts he used to wear in the 1970’s at the peak of his fame. What started out as my obsession with Uri Geller’s weird ways has gradually developed into quite the opposite.
Against the odds, it seems Penlington is quickly becoming the next Michael Jackson in Geller’s life.
Supported by:
Uri & Me premiered as a commission piece at the London Word Festival in March 2010. It sold out three nights at the Etcetera Theatre as part of the Camden Fringe in August 2010, adding a fourth sold out show due to demand. In Oct 2010, it played for two nights at Brighton Comedy Festival and in April 2011, Uri & Me was performed at Christ Church College Oxford, as part of The Times Oxford Literature Festival. The show went on to a run at the Edinburgh Fringe 2011 at The Underbelly, performing once again to sold out audiences.
Uri & Me was developed in association with Show + Tell – an award-winning production company of live comedy and live literature, and directed by Tom Bell (Tommy & The Weeks, Delete The Banjax, Knightmare Live).
A fascinating hour – ★★★★
It’s a bit like watching Derren Brown in a cupboard. With sarcasm. And psychically charged orange dots. To be clear: this is a good thing.