The Illusionists 2.0 is a super charged magic show presenting a troupe of daredevils, magicians, psychics, hypnotists and the like in a glitzy and fast paced show.
Working on the theory that the whole is greater han the sum of it’s parts, this show works well in giving us a little bit of everything and not too much of one particular performer.
The show has taken up residence at the Crown Theatre and the cast currently includes eight intriguingly different performers each with a title like The Magician, The Psychics and The Daredevil.
This show is a great family show suitable for people of all ages. The Master Magician delivered a magic trick that involved the whole audience, that was impressive. The psychics headed out in to the audience showing that they knew a lot about us and the daredevil made us hold our breath more than once!
Whether he was firing arrows from a bow across the stage towards a seemingly fearless assistant or tying himself up in a straight jacket and setting himself on fire – the daredevil had us biting our finger nails.
The highlight of the show was the Hypnotist – or more to the point a young lady named Mikaela who volunteered to be hypnotised. Mikaela wasn’t the only audience member hypnotised, there were about 25 others, but she was definitely the best. Convinced that the audience member sitting next to her had the best cologne ever, the Hypnotist had to keep a close eye on the over amorous young lady. The audience was in stitches.
I was honestly taken a back by how many people rushed to the stage for the chance to be hypnotised and turned into entertainment.
Technology aided this show a great deal, huge video screens allowed the audience to see the action close up, and alongside the smoke and mirrors there was lazers, impressive lighting, fireworks and an emotive soundtrack – and some odd backing dancers.
One artist who benefited from the video enhancement was Korean magician Hyun Joon Kim, AKA ‘The Manipulator’. He showcased his impressive card tricks and slight of hand skills. His demonstration was very smooth. The doorman across the road at Crown Casino should probably keep an eye out for him.
For a night of old fashioned magic, delivered with a ton of pizzazz, jazz hands and fanfares take a trip to Crown to see The Illusionists 2.0. As you head home you can;t help but wonder, was the girl always in the box, were those arrows real, what if he hadn’t reach the fire extinguisher in time, how did they know what brand of cigarettes, why was that girl so into being hypnotised?
The Illusionists 2.0 is at Crown Theatre until Sunday April 19th, Tickets can be purchased via Ticketek
