Theatre Review: Now You See Me Live

Now You See Me Live

Featuring Adam Trent, Enzo Weyne, Andrew Basso and Gabriella Lester

Creative Producer - Simon Painter

Creative Director - Ash Jacks McCready

The season plays until Sunday 4 January at the Opera House, Concert Hall

Photo credit Cameron Grant

Reviewed by Ron Lee, CSP

Helicopter – Cameron Grant

There’s nothing quite like big stage illusions in a large theatre. 

Now You See Me Live has opened at the Sydney Opera House. The traveling troupe of interchangeable magicians are presenting a big stage show that is designed to astound and amaze.

It opens with a homage to Harry Houdini with the upside-down, suspended straight jacket escape. Then comes a woman on a large platform with surrounding white curtains and an astonishing transpo. It was more impressive than Miss Saigon. Those of you have seen the musical will know what I mean.

Of course there are the mandatory card tricks. “See, all the cards are different. Tell me when to stop. Have we ever met before? Here is your signed card.” Admittedly, the sleight-of-hand by Adam Trent from the U.S.A. is excellent. He’s well practised and highly skilled, but they’re still card tricks.

Water Cell – Ken Leanfore (featuring escape artist Andrew Basso)

Very good, on with the show. what’s next?

Andrew Basso from Italy performs Houdini's Water Torture Cell fully exposed, without cover. According to the onstage timer, his one breath lasted two minutes and six seconds while he was escaping from handcuffs and ankle shackles. Of course he’s going to escape, but you can still feel the tension in the audience.

Gabriella Lester from the RSA escapes from the safe in the nick of time before the explosion. Frenchman Enzo Weyne makes us think, “we seek him here, we seek him there, we seek him everywhere, but where is he?”

The climactic final illusion was beautifully timed and elicited gasps from the eminently impressed audience.

Enzo & Gabriella – Ken Leanfore

One of my favourite, surprising bits involves the live scorpion. We were sitting close to the stage and it certainly looked like a live arachnid.

If you're new to magic, you will have many "wow" moments during this show, and if you're a fan of magic and illusion, you will be like a comedian hearing often told jokes; your appreciation will be for the interpretation, the execution and the delivery. You will know how to do many of the bits and possibly will have performed some of them, but at whatever level you are, if you go to see Now You See Me Live with an attitude of childlike wonder, you will be richly rewarded with an enjoyable experience.