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‘Illusionists’ bring magic to all ages

Prepare to be amazed.

That’s the advice of Kevin James, aka, The Inventor, one of the stars of “The Illusionists — Live from Broadway,” which comes to Packard Music Hall on Tuesday.

“When we are children, everything is magical,” James said in an email interview. “When we grow up, we have to go to school, get a job, raise a family, pay the bills, and that sense of wonder gets beaten out of us. Magic has a unique ability to rekindle that feeling of wonder and amazement more than any other art form.

“It is definitely entertainment and very good family entertainment, but it is also a way for magicians to help adults feel that sense of wonder they had as a kid.”

Combining spellbinding tricks, death-defying stunts and surprises, the production has been performed across North America and showcases the talents of five illusionists.

Ask what the difference is between a magician and an illusionist, James said, “We do mix both seamlessly. You will see very large illusions and some very intimate magic. The fact is, we are all both illusionists and magicians. We use the techniques of both to create an amazing, interactive and wonder-inspiring show.”

The other illusionists coming to Warren are:

• The Trickster, Jeff Hobson, who uses showmanship and humor while executing close-up magic;

• The Deductionist, Colin Cloud, who astonishes with his psychic abilities;

• The Manipulator, An Ha Lim, who has a resume that comprises first place at Korea’s Busan International Magic Competition, Italy Club Convention Manipulation and World Magic Seminar in Asia and Golden Lion Award winner at the World Magic Seminar in Las Vegas;

• The Daredevil, Jonathan Goodwin, an accomplished knife thrower, archer, escape artist, martial artist, free diver and free climber.

James said, “Instead of seeing one performer for two hours, you get to see five illusionists from around the world who all have their own specialty and are at the top of their game. So you don’t get the same vibe or point-of-view. It is like a big magic buffet.

“We do a little ensemble work as well as solo performances. There is lots of comedy and audience participation, which is great for us as you just never know what the volunteers will say or do.”

James said he developed a fascination with magic at an early age. “It all started when I saw a magician at my elementary school. Not long after, Doug Henning exploded on national television and he sealed the deal. I knew instantly that I would do magic for the rest of my life. I remember how seeing these moments of magic made me feel. I still love giving that feeling to the audience.”

After studying drama at Western Michigan University, James moved to Los Angeles, where he hooked up with local magician groups the Long Beach Mystics and the Magic Castle Juniors. It was here that he earned the first of numerous awards while continuing his studies of prestidigitation.

“I have admired many different magicians for various reasons. Mike Caveney taught me to study and love the history of magic. Teller from Penn & Teller taught me about creating dark humor and beauty in magic. I loved Richardi and Moretti for their stark, dramatic, minimalistic approach to their work. Gaetan Bloom taught me how to stir my imagination and creativity. Brachetti taught me about adding other art forms and using drama with magic. Jarrett, LeRoy, Selbit, Devant and DeKolta taught me to think outside the box when creating illusion. I owe them all a huge debt.”

James then created, developed and produced innovative magic effects such as the floating rose, snow and bowlarama that are performed by him and others around the world.

“As an inventor of magic, the process of seeing a new effect being born is very soul fulfilling. It starts with a scribble on a napkin to finally getting applause. It is such a wonderful feeling.”

After extended runs in Paris, Seoul, South Korea and Las Vegas, he joined The Illusionists in 2012. “Magic is very much a universal art form. It is visceral and sings to our deep emotional places. It breaks all barriers, language, cultural, age, etc.,” James said. “Everyone can enjoy it equally.

“The best kept secret in magic is that there are no secrets. Magicians are guarding an empty safe. The secret is about 10 per cent of the equation. The magic doesn’t happen onstage but in the minds of the audience. The secret is usually very simple and disappointing.

“The important parts are the thousands of little decisions the magician has to make when creating a routine — What is the thematic hook of the presentation? What will I wear? What is my voice like? What is the script? Music? Lighting? Body language? What is my point- of-view? How will I engage and resonate with the audience? How will I make them care? How can I make them feel something? Will they feel an innocent sense of wonder, nostalgia, beauty, shock? There are so many directions to take them.

“My best advice is to try and quiet that side of the brain that needs to know the secret. Try to suspend disbelief like you would in a movie. Give yourself permission to have some fun and feel like a kid again.”

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