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The show at the London Palladium, in honour of Siegfried & Roy was very professional in it's slickness of production (fast moving, & virtually no dead spots) with an excellent compere in Jeff Hobson (who also performed his own spot, with Egg bag, Card In Mouth, & Watch Stealing) along with some of the very best performers in the world.

A very slick overture by the Magicares Big Band, leading in to the introduction of Kalin & Jinger, with their big illusions. which included a flaming spikes through girl, with the vanish of the girl & reappearance in the audience. Russ Stevens made a cameo appearance (having been pulled from the audience) checking the Sawing In Half Box!

The Great Tomsoni & Co with his gum chewing assistant were as funny as ever!

Luis De Matos, with his Sands Of The Desert routine, which I think I once saw Doug Henning perform, where the water turns black & then back to clear again at the end. This was very beautifully performed, I just wished that you couldn't buy the coloured sands that stay dry when immersed in water, in so many toy shops!


Vik & Fabrini did their "Robotic" type act that many of us had seen at Blackpool, as effective as ever!

Wally Eastwood "Probably" stole the show, billed as the "Fastest hands on earth" his juggling was definitely the fastest I had ever seen, truly incredible, & his playing of a classical piece of music by dropping juggling balls onto the keys was truly astounding, as was his quick wit, & fantastic personality, you couldn't help but love him! He received a fantastic ovation from the enthusiastic audience.

At the beginning of the above paragraph, I stated that Wally "Probably" stole the show, but to be honest every other act "Probably" stole the show as well! (if that can make any sense!!) EVERY act was a showstopper, it really was an excellent line-up.

A twenty minute interval followed, & then it was back to the Magicares Big Band, followed by the Sheer Artistry that is Norm Nielson, a truly wonderful act that has taken him all around the world. Vanishing Flute, Misers Dream with the "Tinkling" coin ladder, & the incomparable Floating & "Playing" Violin. A wonderful wonderful act, that is as fresh today as it was when it was first introduced to the world, many many years ago.

Jason Byrne, did his incredible Bird/Manipulative act, with some of the slickest productions you'll ever see, culminating in the production of a duck! which certainly drew the gasps.

Ben Stone (the son of Paul) wrote a special song for Magicares called "When Magic Cares, Miracles happen" he sang this with the big band backing him, it was both catchy & moving, a perfect song for such a perfect event.

Raymond Crow followed with a very novel routine with a spectator's borrowed jacket where it flew, danced & floated around the stage! Absolutely wonderful. He finished his set with the hand shadows act that has received millions of hits on youtube, & clinched him an appearance on the Royal Variety Show. There is something truly "Magical" about this act that evokes such an emotional reaction from an audience, there were many OOh's & Ahh's from the audience during the performance, again a fantastic act.

Soul Mystique were the last act on stage, with their incredible quick change/dance act, very visual & spectacular drawing the gasps from the audience during their set.

Interspersed throughout the show were filmed tributes to Siegfried & Roy by such people as Cher, Sir Anthony Hopkins & Steve Wynn, plus many live tributes as well from the stage, including amongst others, Lynette Chappell who was their leading Lady (The Evil Queen) in the show for many years.

The most moving tribute was delivered by Steve Wynn, who had built the Mirage Hotel for Siegfried & Roy's show in Vegas, stating very clearly the love from Siegfried & Roy's friends & indeed their love & support for each other. It was all very emotional & moving...............

The evening concluded with the awaited appearance from both Siegfried Roy who both received prolonged standing ovations from the audience.

Siegfried did most of the talking (to begin with!) then Roy gestured for the microphone to say his bit, although a little slurred in his speech, he was perfectly understandable. Siegfried took the Mic back from Roy, & Roy almost "Snatched" it back to the delight of the audience, he was unstoppable!!! (perhaps he had lessons from Ken Dodd!) it was all very moving & emotional, I have to admit that I couldn't hold back the tears. I saw the same courage, determination, & strength in my dear Mum during her battle with cancer. Siegfried & Roy took several curtain calls at the end, & Roy kept walking back to centre stage, it became very amusing as he walked on & off continuously, almost as if to just prove to us that he could indeed walk!!!! (he was told at one point that he would never walk again)

Roy is a very strong person on all levels, but it is his INNER STRENGTH that is so amazing, & tonight we witnessed that Magical Inner Strength.

This was a truly memorable occasion, that will forever live in the minds of everyone who attended. Proving yet again that the magic still lives, & that Siegfried & Roy are indeed Masters Of The Impossible!

With heartfelt thanks to Paul Stone & the team, for making this show happen, you certainly gave us a night to remember forever!


SARMOTI

Mike Danata 29th Sept 2008

Sounds as though it was a fantastic Show Mike. Thank you.