The Illusionists
Opening Night: November 19, 2015
Closing: January 3, 2016
Theater: Neil Simon Theatre
Broadway’s holiday smash hit, “The Illusionists,” returns to New York City with incredible new magic! This fast-paced, wildly entertaining show, featuring seven of the world’s greatest magicians, broke box records when it made its Broadway debut last year. Families flocked to see mind-blowing magic, death-defying stunts and acts of breathtaking wonder in the show The New York Times called “A high-tech magic extravaganza” and NY1 called “Awesome. A solid 10!” “The Illusionists – Live on Broadway” will feature a cast of magical superheroes, including three new performers with thrilling stunts and jaw-dropping sleight of hand.
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November 20, 2015
Magic acts, it seems to me, are best served like a nice dry martini, straight up. That’s not the theory behind “The Illusionists,” directed and choreographed by Neil Dorward. It seems to have been designed along the lines of television contest shows like “The Voice” and “America’s Got Talent,” with all sorts of trumped-up glitz attempting to feed the excitement. We get continuous blasts of thunderous, supposedly suspense-enhancing music played onstage by a band. In addition to the seven magicians themselves, a chorus of assistants slinks around in gothic attire attempting to look sexy, or menacing, or something. There are laser beams, digital video screens and more. All this serves not to enhance the brilliance of the feats being performed but to distract from it. In fact, all the fancy stagecraft surrounding the acts makes the tricks themselves seem less impressive. A giant screen that hangs above the stage, offering us a close-up view of the sleight of hand, tends to grab your attention. Everyone knows that watching a magic act on television instead of live robs it of much of its allure.
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