THE ILLUSIONISTS magic show at the Fox Theater review

THE ILLUSIONISTS cast spell at Fox

-By Cate Marquis –

Seven performers conjured an entertaining evening of magic, laughter and amazement on opening night of THE ILLUSIONISTS – LIVE FROM BROADWAY at the Fox theater, March 31-April 2. Lead by master of ceremonies Jeff Hobson, The Trickster, the cast of magicians delighted the nearly-full house with humor and an array of stage magic styles, with an updated, Halloween-ish twist.

Although the touring show is called “The Illusionists,” in fact there were none of the kind of big illusions, such as disappearing tigers or elephants, the some magic shows. Rather than David Copperfield, this show went back to banquet of classic magic, but with a new twist. Rather than the magician’s usual polished tail-coat, the performer were dressed either all in black or in Goth variations as if just arriving from a Halloween party. Think Marilyn Manson or Riff Raff in The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

Comedy provided as much of the evening’s delight as the magic, and humor was a big element in many of the acts. Kicked off by host Hobson, who introduced each act after performing one of his own comic magic routines, the international line-up of magic acts ranged from sleight-of-hand, card tricks, escapes, mind-reading, illusions like sawing a man in half, and a demonstration of marksmanship with a cross bow. Like the host, each performer had a title: The Manipulator- An Ha Lim, The Escapologist – Andrew Basso, The Inventor – Kevin James, The Deductionist – Colin Cloud, and The Daredevil – Jonathan Goodwin

Some readers will recognize some of these names from television magic shows. Hobson tied the acts together, providing transitions the mixed equal measures of humor and magic. Sprinkled his act with pointed quips, including a few slightly ribald ones, he quickly had the audience in a good mood. Hobson entertained with tricks that involved picking out (or maybe on) audience members, while keeping up a snappy patter that poked fun at himself as well as audience members, and some ribbing of Festus.

One of the best of the evening was Dan Sperry, The Anti-Conjuror. Dressed in a black mix of ragged tailcoat, skeleton-printed tee-shirt, tattoos, and heavy boots, he was made up to look like a cross-between Marilyn Manson and Heath Ledger as the Joker, and he adopted a Goth/punk persona of mumbling off-handedness that was surprisingly funny. Despite the slacker appearance, Sperry’s magic showed astonishing skill, making a riveting stage presence. His skill with materializing doves was impressive, filled with a grace of movement that contrasted well with his appearance. His routine with an audience member was both funny and Halloween-icky, where he inserted a coin in his eye and had it reappear in his arm, emerging from under his skin. His twist on an old trick gave it a freshness, and his assistant’s “yuck” reaction was half the entertainment. I wouldn’t have wanted my quarter back either.

Other performers were also distinctive combinations of familiar magic presented in a new was. Scottish mentalist Colin Cloud, The Deductionist, was all poise and contemporary style with his asymmetric hair style, while channeling the deductive powers of Sherlock Holmes. Cloud’s ability to charm and misdirect his audience left them amazed as he offered a rapid-fire series of feats that combined apparent mind-reading and a seeming ability to see the future, in one the show’s best acts.

Kevin James, The Inventor, takes on a kind of “mad scientist” persona for his gasp-inducing, comic magic act. With theatrical flair and nary a word, the French-born American offers up a new twist on the sawing-a-man-in-half trick by “accidentally” cutting his assistant in two, and then rolling the parts on a gurney around the “lab” before reassembling him. In another bit, he assembles a man from parts, which then springs to life. The wordless act has bits of Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin, sometimes literally.

All the acts included classic magic but Italian Andrew Basso, The Escapologist, was the only performer to directly reference that heritage. Citing his reverence for Harry Houdini and acknowledging his legend, Basso recreated one of Houdini’s famous acts – the escape from a water-filled case while chained inside it. The twist was the Basso performed the escape in full view of the audience, instead of having the water chamber hidden behind a drape or curtain. Watching Basso free himself was an extra treat for serious magic buffs.

Seeing the magic was something that made this show different, not just the full view escape. Cameras captured the action and it as projected on a screen above the stage, giving those in the balcony the same good view as people in the closer seats had. At times, a mobile camera zoomed in and showed the magic in close up as well.

Another striking performance was the one that was not magic per se. British-born stunt performer Jonathan Goodwin delivers a stunning demonstration of skill with a cross bow, shooting objects held by an assistant, including an edgewise sheet a newspaper, despite a breeze from smoke machines, and shoot a balloon while blindfolded.

Korean An Ha Lim, The Manipulator, is the winner of multiple magic competition awards, and offered up breathtaking card manipulation, presented with magical mystery and atmospheric light effects.

THE ILLUSIONISTS was a show to please both magic fans and any audience looking for a chance to laugh and be entertained. The Fox often brings shows back for repeat performances and this one would be most welcome to reappear.