Magic back in fashion - with a firey twist

It's not surprising a night with five magicians, a mentalist and an escapologist  offers plenty to marvel at.

More surprising, perhaps,  is that stage spectacular The Illusionists  makes magic, um.... magic once again.

As The Edge director Robbie Macrae, explains to NBR ONLINE magic shows have been lost as being a "bit cheesy".

But The Illusionists brings together some of the world's most innovative and exciting magicians from a range of disciplines, with pyrotechnics, dancers and a live band, and redefines the the age-old black art.

Mr Macrae wooed the spell-binding show here from Australia where  it opened at Sydney Opera House in January 2012, with the entire season sold out before it began.

The Illusionists opens with a card trick by one of Britain's leading mind readers Philip Escoffey, who manages to tell the whole audience what card they're thinking of.

Jeff Hobson 'The Trickster', billed as one of the most in-demand comedy magicians, is the highly entertaining host who charms the audience with his quick wit and a few old fashioned tricks - the  three ropes and egg and bag gags are familiar classics but still manage to intrigue.

Simply baffling

'Anti-conjurer' Dan Sperry is a master of the sleight of hand, swallowing a lifesaver lolly then excising it through his throat with a piece of dental floss. And what the gothic-styled artist (think Edward Scizzor-hands) can do with doves is simply baffling.

Escapologist Andrew Basso - trapped upside down and handcuffed in a tank of water, makes a Houdini-styled escape with a bobby-pin.

Jinger Leigh 'the Enchantress' performs an impressive levitation and her husband Mark Kalin 'The Gentleman' later saws her in half, overseen by two members of the audience holding the straps that tie her down.

If that wasn't frustrating enough to comprehend, 'the Inventor' Kevin James chainsaws a person in half then staples him back together.
For the finale, Mr James turns a wet napkin into a snow storm that covers the audience. It's hard not to be wonder-struck.

Four-piece  LA band 'Z' keep the tricks and feats lively, playing jazz, rock and hip-hop style beats to compliment the action on stage. Lead vocalist Eddie Cole is the nephew of jazz icon Nat "King" Cole.

For many of the magicians, big names in their own right, it's proving to have been a smart move to join forces for The Illusionists -  the vision of executive producer Simon Painter. The rivalry adds another dimension to their slick, fast-paced performances.

With comedy, spectacle and audience participation, The Illusionists entertains for a good two hours.

Mr Macrae says New Zealand hasn't staged a large magic show before and The Illusionists is bringing in a new audience who are not regular ticket buyers.

"In this instance, it's dads and sons who might traditionally go to see sport that are coming along," he says.

The Illusionists shows at The Civic until June 2.

It moves on to Brazil in June before making its European debut in London's West End in October.

gbond@nbr.co.nz