27th March 2015

Witnessing the Impossible with The Illusionists

We at Being Geek Chic are no strangers to the wonders of magic. It’s well documented that we can’t get enough of Harry’s adventures, Hermione’s quick and savvy intellect, and Ron’s well-intended missteps. But we know in our heart of hearts that these are just stories. The wizarding world lives in the pages of books and the lights of the cinema. So when I had the opportunity to see a live magic show, “The Illusionists” at the Ordway Theater in St. Paul, I couldn’t pass it up.

“The Illusionists” (or, as the Playbill refers to them, “the Avengers of Magic”) are seven highly skilled magicians, escape artists, and performers:

The Warrior (Arron Crow) - a Belgian-born marvel whose dangerous stunts with a bow, an arrow, a lady, and an apple (you get the idea) were executed with style.
The Trickster (Jeff Hobson) - a vaudeville-esque showman with quick hands and quicker wit.
The Escapologist (Andrew Basso) - a Harry Houdini-inspired escape artist whose heart-pounding, underwater escapes were nothing short of nail-biting.
The Manipulator (Yu Ho-Jin) - an award-winning “magician’s magician” with card tricks galore.
The Inventor (Kevin James) - an innovator and illusionist who fulfills the creepy mad scientist role with a dose of charm.
The Anti-Conjuror (Dan Sperry) - a character whose gothic mayhem and love of the violent had me squirming in my seat.
The Futurist (Adam Trent) - a happy-go-lucky millennial with oodles of stage presence and digital-based magic.

The show truly dazzled me in “how’d they do that?!” amazement. I let go of the possibility that I would figure out their tricks—spotting a card up a sleeve or a trap door. These people are professionals who have their trade down pat, so suspend your disbelief and just enjoy the show. I did, and experiencing the tricks with childlike awe was so much more fun than frowning with cynicism.

“The Illusionists” is on a national tour, and if it comes to your area, I’d recommend picking up a ticket. But be warned: there’s tons of audience participation, so if you’d rather not participate in an on-stage game on Russian roulette or swallow your pride to assist The Trickster, consider sitting a bit father back in the audience.

And if you go, here’s my advice: allow yourself to believe, even if only for a few hours, that some things are indeed beyond the realm of possibility. After all, in the words of Roald Dahl, “Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it.”

Image via Joan Marcus.

Emma Bauer is a Being Geek Chic Contributor. Clearly, she’s got great taste. She is a PR enthusiast, dog lover, tea drinker, art appreciator, and of course, aspires to Be Geek Chic. Follow her on Twitter: @emmalynnbauer

Awesome geeks join the mailing list:

27th March 2015

Witnessing the Impossible with The Illusionists

The End