Outerbridge Magic
/An evening with my 12 (almost 13) year old is a special event… but what do we do with that time? It’s a challenging task to find a suitable activity with a tween that isn’t too childish but also isn’t too boring.
Enter: Outerbridge Magic - Mysteries of the Keyhole House, a spooky, true-story-based production mixed with magic, illusions, and a little bit of dancing, too.
I wasn’t sure what to expect. M and I arrived in Carleton Place (about a 50 minute drive from our south Ottawa home) at about 7pm, and parked on the street near the Town Hall (parking is free for 2 hours, which is perfect).
The theatre was a striking space that combined old fashioned details with modern elements. Ornate chairs with velvet cushions provided a welcome and comfortable seat for patrons. The smell of wood polish aged floorboards gave some church vibes; the balcony spoke to the present day with an impressive array of lighting and sound boards.
We grabbed seats right at the foot of the large, sloped stage; so close we could see the shuffle of feet beyond the heavy velvet curtains as the crew readied the props. A slide show played as people filed in, showing us pictures and names of the previous owners of The Keyhole House, while boogie-woogie music seemed to crackle out of an invisible phonograph somewhere. The whole scene managed to be cosy and a little eerie.
The show itself was not just magic and illusion, but wove in the plot of Ted and Marion Outerbridge and how they came to live in a haunted house in Smiths Falls: the Keyhole House. As the two worked to restore the house to its original beauty, they had one mysterious encounter after another, and found artefacts like keys, clippings, and hankerchiefs from long ago.
As the intrigue unfolded, we were treated to a host of experiences that enhanced and enriched the storyline. It was clear from the audience’s reaction that Ted and Marion were no amateurs; they awed us time and again throughout the show.
There were sleight-of-hand manoeuvres, mentalism and prediction tricks, close-up magic, parlour magic, and some big, impressive, full-stage feats. I looked around during one such act and saw that the entire audience, my daughter included, was staring in open-mouthed anticipation, waiting for the resolution of the scene.
On the drive home I got the review from the tween: overall, a good show, and “not so long that my butt fell asleep,” (which is, of course, an important feature of any evening entertainment). The most impressive tricks bookended the show, in M’s opinion, and the pantomime (done by Marion, a former Hollywood dancer), was “a little cringe” in places, but did not lack for its entertainment value. The creepy dolls found in the house were M’s least favourite part, but she was glad that the show had a lighter tone to it that prevented the spookiness from being outright scary.
Those interested in seeing the show should check it out - this upcoming weekend there are multiple shows on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Tickets available through Eventbrite.
TL/DR
A fun night out for older kids, tweens and teens that’s not dull for parents. Some cheesiness in the storytelling, but your kid will not be able to feign disinterest at the magic and illusions the duo pull off.
Age range/scary factor: The show writeup says minimum age 5, but my 12 year old was a bit freaked out. Scariest part is talk and pantomime of (friendly) spirits haunting a house. A couple of creepy-ish dolls. Nothing overtly jump-scary, violent, sweary, or inappropriate.
Cost: ~$27 per ‘youth’ ticket (age 25 and under), $50 general admission.
Running time: 2 hours, including a short intermission
Location: Carleton Place Town Hall, 175 Bridge Street
Cool-teen factor: Not bad. Ted is charismatic and has a performer’s sense of reading the crowd well. Some of the pantomime and dancing done by Marion feels a little out of place (my daughter was mildly embarrassed by this but I, the grownup, thought it was awesome).
Good to know: It’s cold in the theatre; bring a sweater or buy some long-sleeved merch! No drinks or snacks available to purchase, so bring your own. Lots of audience participation - expect you might get called on to help with a trick!
Jen is a Mum of 4 and an Ottawa business owner living in the National Capital. She received two complimentary tickets to the show, but all views are her own.
