“Do you believe in real magic?” Many must, as the line to enter the Neil Simon theater wrapped around the block—whole families-- for a recent performance of The Illusionists. This yearly holiday themed event features a rotating troupe of internationally acclaimed magicians, a crowd pleaser as it cajoles the audience with comedy and Vegas styled pageantry.
Provocatively dubbed “The Trickster,” British Paul Dabek leads off, carrying enormous ribboned boxes down the aisle, challenging a father and daughter plucked from their seats to compete. Winning, the girl gets to wave a wand triggering a gauzy opening number, the magicians parading and introduced, until the Taiwanese “Manipulator,” Eric Chien makes cards and coins appear and disappear.