MOVIN’ MELVIN BROWN: A MAN, A MAGIC, A MUSIC! The Royal Croquet Club (RCC) Until 13 Mar 2017 Review by Talia Gaertner-Jones “Movin’ Melvin Brown” has been a favourite for Fringe goers for quite some years. Brown is one of the last original ‘song and dance’ men around and his charisma, stage presence and infectious smile make it is hard not to fall in love with his performance and uplifting personality. His performance “A Man, A Magic, A Music!” showcases a mixtape of songs that have shaped not only Brown’s life but also the face of music history. In the round of Ukiyo, dressed in a red suit and silver tap shoes, Brown begins telling his story from growing up in Cincinnati, Ohio, as a young boy who danced in class for his teacher to travelling across the United States and Canada with his own band “Movin’ Soothin’ and Stone Funk Band” who had Lionel Ritchie and the Commodores open for them. Brown sings and dances through songs from Chuck Berry, Chubby Checker, The Temptations and James Brown, and never seems to be out of breath! He has the audience out of their seats while he transports them to a Gospel church singing “When The Saints Go Marching In” and then once again, after performing an incredible tap routine to Michael Jackson’s “Jam”. Brown also enlists the help of an audience member in a small act of participation reflecting on his 7-year career as a ‘wardrobe removal artist’, as he calls it. Towards the end of the show Brown performs a routine called “Fire On The Mountain” which he learnt in 6 months. It was his first tap routine after he took a performance job as a ‘tap dancer’ never having tapped before. After being ‘wowed’ for 90 minutes, Brown brings back his message of spreading love and to love one another to create a better world, where he finishes by singing his own original and touching song “Change This World”. Proceeds from the song go to his “Change This World Project”, helping homeless children and elderly people in Austin, Texas. If you haven’t seen Movin’ Melvin Brown before, or are a long-time fan, don’t miss his show this Fringe – it will leave you with a smile on your face and your toes tapping! Rating: 5 stars (out of 5)