The Illusionists
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Cititour.com Review
Admittedly, New York City is full of ways to make two hours “disappear” during the holiday season – looking at store windows, shopping for gifts, ice skating – but few if any of these options can provide both the thrills and laughs of the latest edition of “The Illusionists,” now at the Neil Simon Theatre. This now-annual event (once again subtitled “Magic of the Holidays”) provides equally enjoyable entertainment for audience members of all ages, which is a harder trick than it first appears.
Of this year’s six “illusionists,” no one accomplishes that feat as well as Paul Dabek (aka “The Trickster”), who also acts as the evening’s host. This genial performer is both a hilarious stand-up comic, with just enough edge to kid the adults but not upset the kids, as well as a first-rate magician. (Let’s just say you’ll never guess what ends up in the manila envelope in the lengthy but wondrous segment that starts the second act). And while I never thought I’d be even remotely impressed with anyone doing shadow puppets of animals, Dabek actually makes this brief sequence rather charming.
My other favorite act, without question, is Chris Cox (“The Mentalist”), a rather manic guy whose hyperactive manner might be a little annoying if he wasn’t so completely amazing at “mindreading.” Like his current Broadway counterpart, “Secret” star Derren Brown, Cox can somehow tell you where you live, what day you were born or married, or which wacky t-shirt and hat you’ll choose from an on-stage closet without having ever met you. Unlike Brown, though, Cox isn’t afraid of making a fool of himself, which makes him doubly endearing to the audience.
The rest of this edition’s crew clearly feel like supporting players to this pair. Two of the acts not only come from the recent season of NBC “America’s Got Talent,” but essentially repeat what they did on the show. Bubbly Australian Dom Chambers (“The Showman”) makes glasses of beer appear magically from a seemingly empty paper bag, while Eric Chien (“The Manipulator”) displays impressive sleight-of-hand tricks with cards and coins that are, indeed, rather amazing, but also eerily similar to those performed by Shin Lim, the megachamp of AGT and marquee attraction of last year’s “Illusionists.”
In some ways, French magician Enzo Wenye lives up to his title of “The Unforgettable” as a couple of his illusions – specifically one involving a “traveling” light bulb – will linger in my memory, but his low-key presentation doesn’t serve his act as well as it might. And Kevin James (“The Inventor”) is most likely to delight the youngest members of the crowd, who are essentially his target audience. (In addition, as he is a founding member of this show, I’ve seen most of what he does more than once, but newcomers will be more amused than veterans.)
Even if the show is less-than perfect, not to mention, a bit more Vegas than Broadway, I do guarantee any blues you may be feeling when the performance starts will also disappear by magic by the end.
By Brian Scott Lipton
Visit the Site
https://www.theillusionistslive.com
Open/Close Dates
Opening 12/4/2019
Closing 1/5/2020
Theatre Info
Neil Simon Theatre
250 West 52nd Street
New York, NY 10019
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