ORLANDO — When a show offers a mix of creative talent — magic, music, comedy — it can be fun to sit back and see if there’s a true scene stealer in the bunch.
You know, that one performer that seems to grab all the attention and applause.
The performers in the show “Magic, Music and a Little Mayhem” readily admit at the end of the production, the true audience favorite among the six of them is ChaChing — though in a sense, that’s not fair, since ChaChing is an irresistibly cute fluffy white bunny rabbit who plays a key role in some of the show’s neat magic tricks and visual comedy.
ChaChing even opens the show sitting on a stool, looking adorable, and after the show is over, he is available for audiences to pet his fluffy fur or take photos with. How can any mere mortal compete with a strong dose of the cuties?
And while I, too, found ChaChing to be pretty irresistible, that shouldn’t detract from the talent behind the rest of the show, which is being performed at the Orlando International Fringe Theatre Festival.
The hour-long performance combines the talents of magicians James and Joshua Songster, who never speak during the show, but manage to perform some very funny pantomime as a setup to the magic. They’re particularly good at bringing members of the audience on stage to help with the tricks, using hand gestures to explain what they want them to do.
In-between the magic, there’s Fretless Rock — the trio of Michelle Jones on violin, Elizabeth Chaconas on viola and Yamilet Trujillo on cello, who perform some very sublime versions of classic rock tunes like “Don’t Stop Believin.” Guns n Roses’ “Sweet Child of Mine” on violin? Yes, and it sounds terrific.
“Magic, Music and a Little Mayhem” is a great deal of fun precisely because it combines so many enjoyable elements into one show — the eye-popping magic tricks, the often hilarious interactions with the audience, Fretless Rock leading the audience through a sing-a-long of a rock classic, and, of course, ChaChing coming back on stage to help out with a magic trick. In a festival often devoted to adult-oriented shows, this is an ideal choice for the entire family.
“Magic, Music and a Little Mayhem” is being performed at the Pink Venue (the Mandell Theater at the Lowndes Shakespeare Center) on the following dates:
* Today at 4:30 p.m.
* Monday May 23 at 6 p.m.
* Wednesday May 25 at 10:30 p.m.
* Saturday May 28 at 11 a.m.
* Sunday May 29 at 3:15 p.m.
They also sell merchandise at their Fringe table, including an 11×17 full color print of their poster, a “Magic and Mayhem That You Can Perform” DVD, and a Fretless Rock “The Music of Magic, Music and a Little Mayhem” CD.
To learn more about Magic and Mayhem Productions, visit www.MagicianMayhemShow.com or call 407-222-4412.

Michael Freeman is an Orlando journalist, playwright and author of the book “Bloody Rabbit”. Contact him at Freelineorlando@gmail.com..