The Illusionists 1903 – theatre review

Magic done well remains as perplexing, as mind bending as it ever has … and so it is here. The Illusionists 1903 transports us back to a time when these entertainers were the rock stars of their day. As the program notes attest, the art of magic enjoyed a Golden Age that spanned roughly 60 years over the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. A cast of world-class conjurers has been assembled, inspired by the prestidigitators of yesteryear, including the greatest of them all, Harry Houdini.

In this show there are nine, along with four support performers and three musicians. On a number of occasions, acts – many of which are extraordinary and mesmerising – are videotaped live, so the audience can focus on the action on a vintage-look oval screen above the stage. The action moves along at pace and involves more crowd participation than any other performance I have attended. Apart from the many “how could that possibly be” moments, there are a several hilarious interludes that generate peels of laughter.

Two hour-long halves are punctuated by a 20-minute interval.

The key talent are given character names embodying past magical greats. So, you have The Immortal (Rick Thomas), The Showman (Mark Kalin), The Escapologist (Krendl) and The Eccentric (Charlie Frye). Then there are The Conjuress (Jinger Leigh), The Clairvoyant pair (Thommy Ten and Amélie van Tass) and The Charlatan (Dana Daniels) along with The Grand Carlini (Justo Thaus). The latter executes a remarkable piece that sees a diminutive marionette become an illusionist. The Eccentric marries physical comedy with sleight of hand. He appears to be a “Rubber Man” as he contorts himself in and around a series of rings and juggles with ease and aplomb. The Immortal levitates, plucks doves from handkerchiefs and has a lot of fun at volunteers’ expense.

The start of the second act sees the stage turned into an old-fashioned entertainment parlour, with handpicked audience members seated alongside the artists. That is when incredulity steps up a gear. The Conjuress has her way with a glowing ball and is apparently cut in two by The Showman, but somehow lives to tell the tale. The female clairvoyant, working in tandem with her male counterpart, is blindfolded, yet still manages to describe in fine detail what audience members have brought with them to the show. What amazing insight! A second half pre-typed letter from her is even more intriguing.

Bound, shackled and submerged in water, The Escapologist treats us to the same near death experience that enthralled patrons wherever the Great Houdini performed. The former is “trapped” upside down in the “Water Torture Cell” for more than three and a half minutes while picking locks with a paper clip. While arguably the high point in the show, in truth that is extremely difficult to pinpoint because the highlights are so numerous.

The man who really tickled the funny bone in the first act was The Charlatan, who enters the frame with a dove named Dwayne … and gives us another twist after interval. His good humour involving an eight-year-old girl and a journalist, both audience members, was priceless.

So, The Illusionists 1903 is not only seriously impressive but heaps of fun for the whole family. It is a wonderful treat that is playing at the State Theatre at the Victorian Arts Centre until 10th January.

Alex First