The Illusionists | Crown Theatre | Until 2 July |  ★ ★ ★ ★

The popular magic shows returns for another run at Crown Theatre. While some of the cast were in the show the last time it visited, there’s enough fresh material and new performers to make a repeat viewing worthwhile.

Even though I’d seen some of the performers before, I’m still scratching my head and wondering how they did it?

The Illusionists presents seven magicians of different ilks, each takes a turn at blowing the audiences minds with mind reading skills, acts of levitation, things disappear, reappear, some people get set on fire, others have arrows whizzing past their heads.

The show kicks off with the very funny US comedian / magician Harrison Greenbaum who persevered through some challenging audience participation. Undeterred by slang and accents, Greenbaum, who goes by the moniker The Trickster in the show, cleverly balanced comedy and deception to impress the crowd.

The highlight of the show was Scottish performer Colin Cloud (The Deductionist) who showed everyone how to have a good chance of winning the first round of a game of rock, paper, scissors, before inviting two participants on stage.

Soon Cloud was able to determine what the pair had eaten for dinner, the names of their first pets and what they did for a living. How he was able to gleam so much information about them was a true mystery.

Raymond Crowe (The Unusualist) was the quirkiest member of the bunch, a mix of ventriloquism, shadow puppetry and magical tricks was captivating.

British performer James More (The Deceptionist) came with a team of backing dancers, lights and lazers to create an epic presentation of bodies being sawed in half, people vanishing and object magically appearing.

Yu Ho-Jin, who is billed as The Manipulator, was in the show last time it visited Perth, and while his tricks with cards were captivating the first time, a second viewing was less than engrossing.

Conversely The Daredevil, Jonathon Goodwin, was amazing to watch perform a second time, even though he was doing the same act. First time on stage, he tied himself in a straight jacket and set himself on fire. The second time he appeared he came armed with a crossbow and the bravest assistant walking the planet.

The final member of the troupe was  Kevin James, The Inventor, who delivered on of the most intimate moments of the night when he picked a young girl out of the audience and made a piece of tissue paper come to life.

The Illusionists was great family entertainment that can be enjoyed by younger and older audiences.

Graeme Watson

Tickets are available from Ticketmaster.