Review: Carl-Einar Hackner: Handluggage, Gilded Balloon

By Martin Gray
Published on 27/08/2012 14:54

Next time you’re in Ikea, watch out for Carl-Einar Häckner. It’s possible you’ll spot the Swedish entertainer shopping for props.

* * * *

And after seeing his show it’s tempting to think that if only you, too, buy a Marius table, don an Elvis jumpsuit and grow your hair to Thor length, you could have an audience in the palm of your hand. And you could, if you have charm by the bucketload and an irresistible blend of verbal and physical comedy, singing and magic. With a grin just the right side of manic and a dash of the great Tommy Cooper, Häckner teases you into his world of surreal silliness and you may not want to leave.

A stage filled with self-assembly furniture is only the beginning of the props Häckner has to offer – there’s a third hand, a mouth organ, a banana, the titular handluggage… As for what he does with them, well, that would be the act; he delivers the goods far better than I can describe them.

Häckner also sings a comic song or two, does the odd card trick and recalls an encounter with a rock god – all while sounding like The Muppet Show’s Swedish Chef chewing an Ikea meatball.

Häckner has put together an inventive, endlessly entertaining hour that will send you into the night with a stupid great grin on your face. As daft as it’s clever, Handluggage is like nothing else you’ll see this year.

MARTIN GRAY

Until 27 August. Today 7:30pm.