BWW Reviews: Magic Alive with THE ILLUSIONISTS at The 5th Avenue

Most of us in some way still want to believe that magic is real. I know I do. I mean how many of us tried some of those Harry Potter spells just to see what would happen? Just me? Well anyway, some true magicians are visiting Seattle at the moment with the big flashy show "The Illusionists - Witness the Impossible" over at the 5th Avenue Theatre. But this is not the magic shows of old as they've infused it with a cool, rockin' vibe and enough variation that it's bound to thrill anyone.

With seven different performers (each with seven very different styles and specialties) there's something for everyone. There's the Futurist, Adam Trent, who not only thrills with his high-tech magic you may not see coming but also keeps much of the pacing of the show going as a kind of narrator. There's the Anti-Conjuror, Dan Sperry, who looks like Marilyn Manson's little brother and who explores the darker side of magic but all with a twisted comedy bent. He was both dangerous and hilarious all at the same time especially when he pulled up an audience member to "play a little game". The Warrior, Aaron Crow, who wowed us with his use of weapons to pull off his death-defying trick. Death defying for the couple he pulled up from the audience and not himself, I might add. The Escapologist, Andrew Basso, who didn't so much mystify us as terrify as he performed one of Houdini's daring escapes in full view of the audience. No cloak, diversion or magic here just a hair raising escape that left the audience gasping for breath. The Inventor, Kevin James, who had more of a science fiction crossed with steampunk style to his trickery and when he wasn't dismembering someone he was sweetly sharing his magic with a little girl from the crowd.

But my personal favorites of the evening were the Manipulator, Yu Ho-Jin, and the Trickster, Jeff Hobson. Ho-jin took simple card manipulation to a new level with a stunningly choreographed routine that was as hauntingly beautiful as it was mystifying. It's no wonder he's a multiple magic award winner at such a young age. And then there was Hobson who kept us all in stiches as he kept us guessing as to how he managed his outrageous illusions, one of which he managed to get an audience member to do for him while he was no where near her.

No this is not your typical musical theater fare that you might expect from the 5th Avenue but it is definitely a riveting and extremely fun evening and will get you believing in magic again. And this is why I'm conjuring up a magical YAY for "The Illusionists - Witness the Impossible" with my three letter rating system. The rest of us may not have magic like Harry Potter but these gentlemen seem to have all graduated from Hogwarts with honors.

"The Illusionists - Witness the Impossible" performs at the 5th Avenue Theatre through June 21st. For tickets or information contact the 5th Avenue Theatre box office at 206-625-1900 or visit them online at www.5thavenue.org.

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