[As an aside, we encourage you to go and see a show at this fabulous 500 seat
theatre. It's approximately 25 minutes west of Toronto's western
border. The facilities are modern and spacious. On the lower
level, it appears that all seats have amazing sight lines. (We didn't
venture up to the balcony.) The seats are a little bit wider than
standard theatre seats, which makes them very comfortable! Parking is free and
plentiful.]
[Additionally, this is the first magic show we've been
to where there's been an ASL interpreter available. The interpreter was
easily seen and unobtrusive. They did not distract from the show.
There appeared to be quite a few folks in the audience fluent in sign
language. I'm sure the service was well appreciated!]
Here are some random thoughts that came to mind while watching Ted and Marion share some
fascinating stories about their current home and the individuals who had
previously lived there:
The tone of the show was nicely set with a carefully curated period piece
soundtrack which included "All That Jazz," "It Don't Mean a Thing," and
Glenn Miller ("In the Mood" we think.)
The show was a BRAND NEW SHOW with very little overlap with their previous
show "Outerbridge Clockwork Mysteries." (Sadly there was no way to work the disco ball jacket that Marion
painstakingly created for Ted, into the new show.)
We were tremendously lucky to be at a show where illusionist technician
Shenna Dunn came out of retirement! Her grace and talent at the beginning
of the show made for a delightful opener!
This show is extraordinarily creatively satisfying. It is very clear that a lot of
time and thought has been put into tying all of the visuals into the theme
of the show. Just about every item on stage looked like it was part of an
historical play. The smallest details were considered; from the
shape of the centre spot, to the use of golf clubs in lieu of a typically
used magic prop, and of course the fabulous costumes created by Marion. Well
done Ted and Marion!
This show is a masterclass in organically driven story telling. The premise
of the show is based on historical events. The compelling
narrative is highlighted with creatively re-imagined, and expertly
executed magical effects.
All illusions, big and small, were masterfully performed.
The story telling is equally as important and entertaining as the magic and
illusions.
There is a nice ratio of grand illusion, intimate magic, and mentalism.
Marion has upped her game with fantastically executed magic!
(On top of sharing her superb dance and quick change talents.)
Kudos to Ted and Marion for going out of their way to right some wrongs for previous owners of the Keyhole house!
We counted 14 volunteers. Sitting at the back of the theatre provides little to no protection from being selected as a volunteer!
While this is certainly a family-friendly show, this is NOT a show aimed at
children. There are some mature themes involved. And the wee one
behind us found the "séance" portion of the show a little bit
frightening.
The evening was a marvelous blend of historical story telling, mixed with masterful performances!
Possibly the only magic show based entirely on a slice of Canadian history.
Disclosure: KOP and I were guests at this show. The opinions expressed above are
entirely our own. We did not receive compensation for the writing or the
publishing of this article.
Get ready to be spellbound! 🎩✨ Enchanted Wonders, featuring four of the nation’s top family magicians, is about to captivate audiences at Roselawn Centre in Port Colborne! Today’s the day tickets become available – don’t miss out on securing your seat for an evening filled with unforgettable magic and excitement!
Get ready to be amazed by the Canadian Masters of Magic, produced by the Ontario OWOW Magic Festival. This incredible show features the best of the best in Canadian magic, including magicians who have wowed audiences and judges on popular shows like Penn & Teller's Fool Us and Canada's Got Talent.
Be prepared to have your mind blown as these masters of magic perform unbelievable illusions and impressive feats of mentalism and sleight of hand. Don't miss this evening of magic and mystery that will captivate your imagination and leave you in awe. Canadian Masters of Magic - where the extraordinary is the ordinary!
IN SUPPORT OF MAKE-A-WISH CANADA Tuesday, December 12, 2023 McIntyre Performing Arts Centre
Get ready to be amazed by the Canadian Masters of Magic, produced by the Ontario OWOW Magic Festival. This incredible show features Ryan Joyce and Nathaniel Rankin showcasing the best of the best in Canadian magic. A Vegas-style show, our magicians have wowed audiences and judges on popular shows like Penn & Teller's Fool Us and Canada's Got Talent.
Be prepared to have your mind blown as these masters of magic perform unbelievable illusions and impressive feats of mentalism and sleight of hand. Don't miss this evening of magic and mystery that will captivate your imagination and leave you in awe.
Canadian Masters of Magic - where the extraordinary is the ordinary! IN SUPPORT OF CRIME STOPPERS PETERBOROUGH-NORTHUMBERLAND. Wednesday, December 13, 2023 Showplace Performance Centre
Get ready to be amazed by the Canadian Masters of Magic, produced by the Ontario OWOW Magic Festival. This incredible show features Ryan Joyce and Nathaniel Rankin showcasing the best of the best in Canadian magic. A Vegas style show, our magicians have wowed audiences and judges on popular shows like Penn & Teller's Fool Us and Canada's Got Talent.
Be prepared to have your mind blown as these masters of magic perform unbelievable illusions and impressive feats of mentalism and sleight of hand. Don't miss this evening of magic and mystery that will captivate your imagination and leave you in awe.
Canadian Masters of Magic - where the extraordinary is the ordinary! PROUDLY IN SUPPORT OF CRIME STOPPERS PETERBOROUGH-NORTHUMBERLAND.
Here is our April theatre tour schedule. With special guest performers @aaronmatthewsmagic @carolinematthewsmagic @sincityillusions We hope to see you there! @chanelle_munroe
Ben and Jonah are two of Toronto’s busiest magicians. They’ve sold out shows at comedy clubs and theaters across Canada, amazed Penn and Teller on their hit tv show, Fool Us, and created mind-blowing magic that’s used by magicians all over the world.
Now they’re taking their show on the road (literally!) and bringing the magic and fun across Canada!
Jam-packed with laughs and audience interaction, this show is perfect for families and adults alike. Join Ben and Jonah as they read minds, predict the future, and astound you with world-class sleight-of-hand that looks like real-life CGI!
This show features two of our star performers! The show is really focused on each individual dog & what makes them special! Stick around afterwards for an interactive meet & greet following each performance! 🐶🎪
Tickets on sale now for April 2, May 13 & 14! Tickets for April 16th go on sale this upcoming Wednesday! 🎟️🎉
We're taking the circus for a walk! Witness the world-renowned furry four-legged cast members performing tail-wagging feats of courage, bone-dropping grand illusions and Labrador-able stunts!
We’re talking the circus for a walk! Witness our world-renown furry four legged cast performing tail wagging feats, bone dropping grand illusions & labrador-able stunts! . . TICKETS ON SALE SOON! KEEP AN EYE ON OUR PAGE! . . Brought to you by @thecaninecircus @aaronmatthewsmagic & @sincityillusions 🎪🐶
We teased a few years back about a Champions of Magic Concert Album. The show has matured to the point where it has a wonderful toe tapping soundtrack! Going back to the 1930s with "Sing, Sing, Sing," to the 1960s with "The Girl from Ipanema," to the 1970s with "Live and Let Die" and of course the 80's hits transporting you back to 1989 Las Vegas!
On with the show...
Note to parents of young children: The music can be very loud at times throughout the show. There's also a smoke machine involved. Forewarned is forearmed.
There's a videographer on hand to capture close-up miracles and project them nice and big on a screen so everyone can see!
Regular readers of the blog have probably guessed that this would be our summary of the show:
So. Much. Fun!
It's possible that between one half to two thirds of this show is new compared with their 2019 presentation.
With every passing year, the cast are more authentic and the show feels more organic. Which translates to a demonstrable increase in entertainment value!
If memory serves, there are no standard card tricks in the show!
As Strange, Velasco, and Young all indicated in their interviews, this show is very different from the one presented in Oshawa in 2019, and significantly different than the one mounted in Toronto in 2018.
There are more whole cast moments, making the show less of a patchwork piece and more of a thoughtfully woven production.
There's LOTS audience participation with both children and adults!
Visually stunning!
Whether you're new to magic or are a professional magician, there's something for everyone!
McAleer's material has undergone a significant change and he's introduced two new very strong pieces. The first, a very visual effect with a young mentalist in training. And the second a beautifully constructed homage to Keller.
England is net new to the show from it's 2019 iteration. She showcases a strong skill set and talent that is intensely theatrical! (I'll never look at a cup of tea the same way again.)
For those who have seen the show already, not to worry! The cornerstone
crowd-pleasers are still in the show, tweaked and refined!
Aerialist Michelle Mazzarella dazzled from above.
Velasco succeeds in breathtaking, heart-stopping escapes and then some.
Even though I've seen him do many of these things before, everything he
does makes me nervous!
Young and Strange have carefully pruned their wonderful grand illusions and introduced some new things in their place. Even after having seen them perform a similar set twice before, Young and
Strange are remarkably entertaining to watch. One can't help but get
caught up in the fun they are having on stage! They've introduced a collaborative piece with Velasco that has a very strong audience reaction.
While excellent magic is at the core of this experience, it's clear that the focus is providing a fabulously entertaining evening. They definitely hit their mark!
This was the third time seeing the show and we were thoroughly entertained! There are so many moments of joyous
laughter, and periods of being completely enthralled in the spectacle.
It is clear that the acts and the scripts are a work in progress and continue to be thoughtfully curated, updated, and revised. It gets better every time!
We highly recommend it! (Even if you've seen it before.)
Disclosure: Kidlet and I were guests at this show. The opinions expressed above are entirely my own. I
did not receive compensation for the writing or the publishing of this
article.
