The Illusionists

Overview

Stand aside muggles, these are the big boys of magic. Billed as “the most spectacular magic show of all time,” The Illusionists is an over-the-top blockbuster that will command your complete attention. This is not just a show of card tricks and slight of hand, these tricks are larger than life, daring, inventive and truly magical.

Hailing from the epicentre of grand magic shows, Las Vegas, each of these master illusionists specialise in their own type of magic. All the classic tricks are represented with levitation, mind reading, disappearance and even a touch of daggy dad-joke comedy. The show is brought to life with some dramatic lighting, tightly choreographed dances in crazy steampunk costumes and a live hip-hop/rock band playing on stage — this is a very slick operation and you won’t feel ashamed to let your inner child out.

The Marilyn Manson of magic, Dan Sperry, shows off some bizarre, often shocking and macabre illusions and at one point even plays Russian roulette with broken glass and a member of the audience. Andrew Basso, the Italian escapologist, will have you gasping for air in a tension packed underwater Houdini escape. His performance is a highlight. Then, mad scientist, inventor and Colonel Sanders look-a-like Kevin James performs some breathtakingly elegant and astounding tricks that will leave you in awe as to how they are executed. The latter half of the show featuring Jeff Hobson, the comedy magician and Philip Escoffey, the mentalist (no, not that mentalist), run a touch long, but all is forgiven when the only female illusionist, Jinger Leigh and her partner in crime Mark Kalin pull off a spellbinding disappearance act.

The Illusionists have sold out shows all over the world and they mean to do the same in Melbourne. The performance runs for a good two hours with intermission and though it is family friendly, you could easily make it an adults only night out with friends. Even though the over-the-top theatrics are a little gimmicky, you have to admit the show is very entertaining. Even the most cynical will be left puzzled, amazed and believing, if only a little, that magic might really exist.