The Illusionists. Marquis Theatre (Broadway). Directed by Neil Dorward. With ensemble cast. Running time: 2hrs 5mins. One intermission.
The Illusionists: In brief
This glitzy touring show makes a six-week stop on Broadway, featuring seven preeminent prestidigitators. The magicians, hailing from Korea, Belgium, Italy and right here at home, combine comedy, dance, high-tech spectacle and jaw-dropping reveals.
The Illusionists: Theater review by Adam Feldman
There are moments of wonder scattered throughout the traveling magic show that has trucked onto Broadway for the holidays. Seven illusionists of different stripes join forces in a Vegas-y spectacle that gives each of them space to ply their specialities, some more special than others. The liquid-fingered young Korean card wizard Yu Ho-Jin (billed here as the Manipulator) is, if you will, the legerdemain attraction; his two segments are distinguished by enchanting speed, grace and elegance. Kevin James (the Inventor) has an entertainingly wacky mad-scientist routine involving a severed torso; Adam Trent (the Futurist) does a clever bit with video screens; Dan Sperry (the Anti-Conjuror) spikes his bag of tricks with engaging goth-kid attitude.
Two others—Aaron Crow (the Warrior), with an archery trick, and Andrew Basso (the Escapologist), in an oddly blasé water-chamber stunt—make less of an impression, and there is a lot of drawn-out audience-participation filler from Trent, Sperry and the sequined, Rip Taylor–ish Jeff Hobson (the Trickster). Perhaps that’s intended to make the live show feel special, since most of the acts in The Illusionists can be seen on YouTube, and the theatrical experience is not all that different; even from orchestra seats, you’ll find yourself watching many of the tricks on the giant video screen planted above the artists. (At times, an onstage cameraman actually blocks the audience from seeing the performers.) The show is a harmless diversion by skilled magic makers, but at Broadway prices, the sleight of hand feels pretty slight.—Theater review by Adam Feldman
THE BOTTOM LINE Excitement is only sometimes in the cards.
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