Through October 27
The Magician’s Table spotlights magicians, their performances, and fantasy.
The premise (buy into it if you will) is that Calliope, the devoted widow of magician Dieter Roterburg, is celebrating his life by gathering magicians (and —that’s us) in an intimate theatrical venue right next to the Hanna Theater.
The show, which premiered in London in 2024, is beginning its first American tour.
An hour before the performance officially begins, ticket holders are invited into the small lobby (where they can meet some amazing magicians and watch magic up close). They are also, of course, encouraged to purchase from the bar (which is why everyone must be over 17 years old).
When it’s showtime, the audience is ushered into a larger space and assigned to a table seating ten—with a reserved space for the magicians who visit each table in rotation. At times Calliope spotlights magic from the main stage as she singles out a patron or two (in a very engaging manner).
As a sucker for sleight-of-hand tricks, this reviewer had no problem appreciating the skill, dexterity, and charm of each magician. Don’t ask me how they did it. (But Google did offer a few hints later—still, it was very amusing to watch.)
OK, yes, there was a big downside. The space, originally designed for staged productions, could not handle the noise created by natural patron chatter. It was almost impossible to hear those at the table, and my watch indicated that if the current decibel level continued, permanent hearing loss was in my future. Perhaps having the show on one of the larger Playhouse Square stages (with all seating onstage and a soaring ceiling space to absorb our chatter) might have worked better. (Which is doubtless an impractical suggestion, but—maybe?).
Bottom Line: Splendid magicians, much to admire, never boring, but the wrong venue.
Go here for tickets.