by danata » Apr 7th, '08, 22:44
"TRICKY TRIO AT TORREQUEBRADA!" (Southern Spain)
("INTERNATIONAL MAGIC SHOW"
STARRING OSCAR, RENZO & MARA)
O.K. I've gone back through my files, & this is what I wrote last year regarding the show at the Torrequebrada............
Review by Mike Danata (May 2007):
There I was, once again awaiting my flight at my local airport in Bournemouth, heading for Spain. The flight was on time, & we were all boarded ready for take off. I sat there rejoicing silently to myself over the fact that everything seemed to be going to plan, & that there were no delays. That was of course until the dreaded announcement was transmitted over the tannoy, "We are sorry to announce a slight delay, due to the need for a passenger to get OFF the plane!" The doors were reopened, as a heavily tattooed young male left the plane. It turned out that the guy had a fear of flying, & couldn't go through with it. We then had to wait for over half an hour, whilst they searched out his suitcase from the hold!
We eventually took off, arriving in the beautiful town of Nerja at around 7.30pm, with the sun still shining!!
The next day I woke up, & it was pouring with rain (not quite what I had expected or hoped for!) in fact this kept up for the next four days, the weather consisting of showers, lots of cloud, & just bits of sunshine. The sun did eventually arrive full throttle though & it got very hot indeed!
I had been to Benalmadena in Spain on two previous occasions in the hope to catch the much publicised Magic Show at The Magic Palace (a custom built theatre of magic) based at nearby Torremolinos. ApparentlyTorremolinos Town Hall supported the project, providing the investors municipal land on which to build the theatre and a 50-year concession to operate it.
The company I understand invested more than 6m euros building and outfitting the 400-seat theatre and were to pay the Town Hall an annual concession fee of 60,100 euros. It all sounded so impressive, & indeed I had told many customers of mine from my Magic Studio to go see the show when it was running, & many people came back to me with glowing reports of the show that I couldn't see, although I tried TWICE!
I had two previous dissapointments with regard to trying to see this show. Firstly I went in May 2006, the theatre was not at that time ready to open, so I went back in December the same year, & it was closed for Christmas! I opted for a different part of Spain this year for my recent holiday, but still intended to get to Torremolinos to see the show if I could.
I went on the internet to pre book my tickets, did a google search for "Magic Show Spain" & got some shocking news: The Theatre had closed down! The closure had nothing to do with audience attendances (which were good) but I understand that a lot of money was lost. I couldn't believe that at the THIRD attempt I would not be able to see the show, & was very dissapointed.
Somehow though I had a feeling that it would not vanish entirely, after all, these were a bunch of Magicians! (just like I hold on to the belief that Siegfried & Roy WILL appear together performing again someday, & I truly believe they will!) For several days before I was due to depart, I kept doing searches on the internet to see if there were any news updates, then just a couple of days before I was due to fly out, I came up trumps with the news that the show had transferred to the HOTELTORREQUEBRADA, which is actually the top end of Benalmadena (Benalmadena is only a fifteen minute bus ride away from Torremolinos) which is where I was based on the two previous occasions when I attempted to see the show! Anyway I booked my tickets, & for the one night of the show, I also booked the Hotel! seeing as I was staying about an hour & a half away, needing two bus journeys to get there!
The Hotel Torrequebrada is a very plush five star hotel, right on the beach. It also boasts it's own casino. There was a little confusion regarding the tickets for the show, I nearly ended up with tickets for the Flamenco show instead of the Magic Show!
The Magic Show has it's own box office, which is down the escalator, which leads to the showroom itself. If you try to get the tickets from reception, they will try & sell you the Flamenco Show tickets, they have nothing to do with the sale of tickets for the Magical Extravaganza downstairs!
The room (not a theatre) is quite big but intimate, it will actually hold over 600 people! Tabled seating, with waiter service for the drinks.
I sat looking at the large stage, & wondered how they would fill it.
Gentle taped music played in the background, & we were firstly entertained by a close up table Magician called KIAN with a couple of great effects, Kian hasn't been doing the magic for very long (so he told me) but you'd never have guessed, he was very likeable, & competent.
Every now & then I looked at my watch to see how long to go, before the show started, it was due to start at 7pm, it actually started at 7.15, probably allowing the latecomers to get seated. Suddenly a Blackout, & the very dramatic music started, the show had begun!
The tricky trio (as I have nick named them!) appeared walking from the back of the stage toward the front , firstly seen as shadows, & then the lights came up, & we saw their faces with three of the most beautiful smiles I've ever seen! You can see & sense the sheer passion & joy that they all have for performing. This show was different on so many levels, it's very hard to know where to begin. Firstly they allow you to GET TO KNOW THEM, they introduce each other & you soon realise that Oscar & Kenzo are brothers, the very beautiful Mara is the partner of Renzo (childhood sweethearts). Oscar & Kenzo's Father is Hans Kazan a famous Magician himself & also Producer of the show. To list all the effects in the show would take an age, & would also ruin the element of surprise. I saw many things that I hadn't seen before, which was GREAT! The flying packing case was truly a highlight, & I'm still trying to work it out!! (They have performed this in Las Vegas! & the bookers for Blackpool should go over to Spain to see it !) Other highlights for me were the routine with three of them using D'Lites. The music throughout was fantastic, & enhanced everything they did. The levitation of Mara was both beautiful & romantic. The illusions (& there were many!) were performed "Slick & Quick". Music for each effect was fantastic, & more importantly the choreography was KEPT TO A MINIMUM! They got on with it, & didn't prance around for ever & a day, which was a real breath of fresh air!
What also struck me, was just how good they ALL were INDIVIDUALLY, Mara was brilliant in her solo spots, with great presentations, & in one routine with a male member of the audience, her comedy timing was superb, she was doing a Misers Dream routine, producing the coins firstly from the air, & then from behind the spectators ears. The audience could see how it was done, but the spectator couldn't! At the conclusion of the routine Mara produced two bananas (one from behind each ear of the spectator!) to great laughter & applause, it really was very well done. I also loved Mara's routine with the floating hand with the wiggling fingers, that ended up dragging her off the stage!!
All three performed so well together, the chemistry between them was perfect, but each were also great solo artists in their own right. I cannot enthuse enough about this show, & more importantly the stars of it!
We were even treated to some close up, performed on stage, filmed live via a camcorder that projected onto a screen behind. There were so many highlights in this show. Firstly I didn't know where to start with this review, & as I type this I'm not sure how to finish! I want to tell you more, but I also want you to go see it for yourselves, without me ruining all the surprises, because there were so many!
In a way, this show is a magicians dream:
No Dancers, no Singers no Support acts (unless you count Steven, another brother, who was very funny with a cameo spot in the show (he normally works back stage) where he sends his brother Oscar up, for wearing a bandanna! & did a little comedy magic & a great juggling routine to Swan Lake!) It is a Magic Show, that is JUST MAGIC. You'd think that with nothing else in the show, it MIGHT NOT appeal to a lay audience, but if you think this you'd be wrong, although the show is just magic, it has many different elements, it has DRAMA, it has ROMANCE, it has COMEDY, & the three performers each "Connect" with the audience in a way I have rarely seen before. It's a real "Family" show, & the audience are made to feel part of the family! The show received a standing ovation at the end, & I'm sure the audience were not all magicians!
Some magic shows you go away from, & remember the tricks, but not the performers, this is not the case with this show, Oscar, Renzo & Mara (also Steven, in his cameo role!) are remembered as much for the people they are, as well as for the magic they perform. Al Goshman once said "The magic is YOU" How right he was!
The show only transferred in April to this new venue, so it's early days. The Magic Palace may have vanished, but it's jewels from within are sure glistening as bright as any star, at the Torrequebrada! Go see it if you can in case it vanishes again!
Mike Danata