Presented by: Adelaide Festival Centre
Reviewed: 27 December 2013
In everyday life, most see what they want to see. We trust our eyes to capture information allowing us to logically process them. The mind can work wonders with the visions it views – something magicians use to their advantage. Revelling in the art of trickery, their ways have bedazzled and amused with all sorts of spectacles. Such productions have been popular for centuries with theatre, TV and film maintaining these wondrous performances for posterity.
One such theatrical show is The Illusionists, which features 7 magical masters utilising their craft to full effect. Its first incarnation was a huge success when it played at the Festival Theatre last year with audiences lapping it up. As befitting a successful initial instalment, its successor arrives in the originally titled The Illusionists 2.0. Whilst it may conjure feelings of déjà vu, this is definitely a whole new production with new magicians creating new tricks.
This time the 7 wonder-makers are The Unusualist, The Deceptionist, The Master Magician, The Warrior, The Futurist, The Manipulator and The Hypnotist. Each has their own qualities; dazzling in their own way. Luis De Matos (The Master Magician) was the night’s host, ensuring proceedings ran smoothly whilst showing his own stylish magical manoeuvres. His affability and enthusiasm successfully projected over the audience, with everyone’s determination in ensuring full audience engagement was very pleasing. Aaron Crow (The Warrior) was certainly eager in this regard, as his ‘weapons of magic’ were used to potentially deadly effect on unsuspecting audience members.
Draped in an array of 3D computer screens and booming orchestral arrangements, The Illusionists 2.0 defiantly marks its places as a 21st Century show. For all the technological marvels however, basic genre staples remain. Card tricks, swords, arrows, fire and water were all used to conjure visual deceptions. These props have been used since the form began with each performer giving them new twists. The most adept at carving fresh paths were Raymond Crowe (The Unusualist) and Yu Ho-Jin (The Manipulator). The former is the only Australian performer in the production with his miming, ventriloquism and especially hand-shadow puppetry suitably amazing. Just as incredible was Jin’s manipulation of cards. His performance nearly stole the show as he exposed the grace and beauty the art-form can produce as cards seamlessly came out of nowhere.
Split in two halves, The Illusionists 2.0 generally maintained its momentum. Even at a 2-hour-plus run-time (including interval) some acts fared better than others. Whilst each was given their chance to shine, the spotlight tended to favour certain performers. Given the large ensemble this was perhaps inevitable although this gave the show an uneven feel. There was also a hint of repetition with some performers utilising the same techniques for different tricks. More variety would have been welcome with some teething problems evident on opening night. Dr Scott Lewis (The Hypnotist), Adam Trent (The Futurist) and James More (The Deceptionist) also made their mark, even if some acts didn’t come together as successfully as they should have.
Overall The Illusionists 2.0 is there for fans who liked the first and enjoy being amazed by magical razzle dazzle. It’s corny in places with some acts as old as time itself. But that shouldn’t stop anyone from marvelling in the pure fun of it – it sets out to be a family-friendly slice of entertainment and generally succeeds. It also proves beyond question the popularity of the genre remains high if the huge and happy audience was anything to go by. Its mystical qualities will never fade with our eyes continually searching for answers from the miraculous spectacles it sees.
The Illusionists 2.0
When: 27 December 2013 – 5 January 2014
Where: Her Majesty’s Theatre, Grote Street, Adelaide
Tickets: $49.90 – $69.90
Bookings: Book at BASS
- The Illusionists’ website (original production)
- Read Barry Lenny’s review of the original production
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