The Illusionists stage show is here in Auckland at The Civic Theatre and Thread attended on opening night. So what’s it all about, and how much are tickets?
The Illusionists stage show is here in Auckland, and last night Thread walked the ‘black carpet’ at The Civic Theatre at opening night. So what’s it all about, and how much are tickets? We tell you what to expect.
What is The Illusionists? It’s the biggest-selling magic show on earth, here in NZ at The Civic for a two-week season. I would describe it as a very entertaining, very Las Vegas, magic show.
What happens? Basically there are six acts (seven magicians but a couple perform together as The Gentleman and The Enchantress) that take turns performing acts. There is a good change in pace from fireworks and death-defying stunts (see The Escapologist escape Houdini-style from a Water Torture Cell) to comedy rope tricks and balloon animals from The Trickster.
What worked well? The favourite performer from what I overheard the audience say, and on Twitter, was The Trickster. Played by actor Jeff Hobson, The Trickster is a camp, over the top comedy magician who was excellent in pulling volunteers up, and even stole their watches and returned them at the end of the show without them realising.
Who was there? Mel Blatt, of All Saints and now XFactor NZ, was sitting in front of me at The Illusionists; she is SO PRETTY in real life. Also from XFactor NZ, singer Willy Moon was ‘picked randomly’ to go up on stage, and stole the show. The show’s opening gag was The Mentalist saying he could tell someone wore women’s underwear – and the camera screens displayed the surprised face of Colin Mathura-Jeffree!
Photos above from The Edge Auckland.
Is it ok for families? The Russian Roulette and lifesaver-from-the-throat stunts by Marilyn Manson-esque magician Dan Sperry, ‘The Anti-Conjuror’, may have made some squeamish. It is a fairly long show. We thought intermission was the end. I sat next to a family with three boys aged 6 to 16 who all watched it until 10.30pm – including the sawing a woman in half. Anyhow, one boy was autistic and the mum didn’t know if he’d enjoy it but he was laughing all the way through. Jokes were mostly clean. It had a bit of low-level smutty humour (that may go over the heads of children). I laughed a lot.
What didn’t work? Not a fan of the doves act by The Anti-Conjuror and the audience audibly went ‘ugh’ as he pulled out a dove painted red. Perhaps NZ culture isn’t into using animals in magic tricks and putting them into little bags.
Thread rating: a solid 7-8 out of ten. Great entertainment with plenty of laughs.
Here are the Auckland show dates and times at the Civic theatre. It’s an all ages gig.
Wed 22 May, 7:30pm – 9:40pm
Thu 23 May, 7:30pm – 9:40pm
Fri 24 May, 7:30pm – 9:40pm
Sat 25 May, 2:00pm – 4:10pm
Sat 25 May, 7:30pm – 9:40pm
Sun 26 May, 11:00am – 1:10pm
Sun 26 May, 3:00pm – 5:10pm
Tue 28 May, 6:30pm – 8:40pm
Wed 29 May, 7:30pm – 9:40pm
Thu 30 May, 7:30pm – 9:40pm
Fri 31 May, 7:30pm – 9:40pm
Sat 1 Jun, 2:00pm – 4:10pm
Sat 1 Jun, 7:30pm – 9:40pm
Sun 2 Jun, 11:00am – 1:00pm
Sun 2 Jun, 3:00pm – 5:10pm
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The Civic, THE EDGE, Cnr Queen & Wellesley Sts, Auckland.
Tickets:
A Reserve adult: $79.90
A Reserve child: $69.90
Premium: $89.90
B Reserve: $69.90
Producer House: $109.90
Buy Tickets – 0800 BUYTICKETS
www.the-edge.co.nz/illusionists
Megan Robinson, 23 May 2013
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