talkmagic.co.uk

NOTE: I hope this is appropriate for this forum, as the core of the post is my thoughts on the performers I witnessed

I visited 'Monday Night Magic' in Manhattan for the first time last week. As somebody whose childhood interest in magic has just reawakened as a thirty-something adult, I was greatly looking forward to it.

Overall, I was perhaps slightly disappointed - but this may have had a lot to do with the somewhat shabby church-hall surroundings and the unavoidable fact that I personally greatly prefer close-up magic to stage magic - so don't take that as too much of a slam.

The performers:

Jamy Ian Swiss compered. He was slick and likeable (two things that don't always go hand in hand) but of course we didn't get to see much of him performing magic. I was extremely annoyed with myself for not having the funds with me to purchase his book 'Shattering Illusions' on the day, after overspending at a restaurant earlier.

Michael Chaut was the first act. He did a variety of effects, including sponge balls and the tossed-out deck. I hadn't seen that before, but somehow it didn't wow me. None of his stuff did, if I am honest, which probably had a lot to do with me not finding him personally likeable plus a tangible sense that he was rather going through the motions. I don't mean to sound too critical, but as an audience member I just got the vibe from his delivery that he had done and said all of this before, a thousand times.

Frank Brents was second up and in contrast exhibited a real charm, despite his years of experience also being very evident.

Headliner was Chris Capehart, and his act was immensely enjoyable. The energy, naturalness and humour of his performance was admirable. He only did perhaps two effects that were memorable (heck, he even did 'dropping coins in a bucket' and the ancient wooden rabbit with one side black one side white) but was hugely entertaining. It was powerful proof (to this newcomer to magic) of the cliche that presentation is just as important as tricks.

[I will add that I did not enjoy Capehart's use of a live rabbit. I'm not terribly keen on seeing a small, frightened animal cowering in a large hall - especially when virtually nothing is even performed with it and it simply sits helplessly on a table for far too long.]

So there you go. Despite some of my comments, the evening was great value for 35 bucks and I'll most likely be going again.

What is the schedule for the shows?