Adelaide Festival Theatre. 16 Jan 2015
For the third time in as many years, The Illusionists ‘brand’ returns to Adelaide, sporting an impressive line-up of magicians, conjurers and tricksters to dazzle and amaze Australian audiences. Sadly the reputation of a sequel has rung true with this production, and it fails to reach the same heights as its predecessors.
It is only on comparison that one would note the difference however; and many of the audience (including those who see fit to give a standing ovation on the second night) appear to enjoy the show.
The pace is slower in this production, and it is felt.
Charlie Frye, ‘The Eccentric’, is the blundering, clumsy performer who brought a vaudevillian style to the show. His tricks ranged from magic rings, to juggling just about anything and levitating a bowling ball. Whenever Frye took to the stage the energy was high.
Rick Thomas as ‘The Immortal’ uses contraptions to aid in his illusions, but is at his absolute best during a routine where he reveals dove after dove seemingly from thin air. His levitation illusion closes the show with a bang as he flies high above the stage before his assistant vanishes right before our eyes.
Armando Lucero is ‘The Maestro’ and revels in the incredibly complicated sleight of hand. Card tricks and disappearing coins abound; though it is always more spectacular when viewed in person rather than via a big screen.
‘The Showman’ and ‘The Conjuress’ are husband and wife duo Mark Kalin and Jinger Leigh. Together they partake in everything from sawing people in half to linking the jewellery of unsuspecting audience members and performing a famed ‘bullet-catch’.
‘The Daredevil’, Jonathan Goodwin turns the audience’s collective stomach with his pain endurance routines and Thommy Taen and Amelie van Tass as ‘The Clairvoyants’ do a clever mind-reading demonstration which leaves you confused, and yet still slightly underwhelmed.
Visually the show is impressive, and the costumes and sets are perfectly themed. The pace and the energy are a huge let down however, and despite a noticeable lift in the second act the show still fails to reach the heights of the first.
Paul Rodda
When: 15 to 25 Jan
Where: Festival Theatre
Bookings: bass.net.au
