⭐⭐⭐ and a half stars
Guest post by Simon Darnley
If you’ve never experienced live magic, then Jamie Allan's AMAZE is the ideal magic show for all the family. There is a wide variety of classical and new magical effects and illusions wrapped up with polished staging, lighting, projections, and music.
Jamie Allen is a consummate experienced professional performer with a likable personality who skillfully takes the audience by the hand and leads them though his life and tricks. He is a very skillful magician and one of the best current card manipulators out there.
The magic tricks varied from jaw dropping big stage illusions to close-up using everyday items such as Rubik's Cubes, ribbon, glass, coins and of course cards.
It was these close-up card moments that often obtained the biggest gasps from the captivated spellbound audience. Using a close-up camera projected on screens it allowed everyone an intimate view of the magic happening before our eyes.
Jamie interacts well with the audience, especially children, and we were all part of a mind-boggling trick with our mobile phone calculator that stayed with me the day after.
However, within the two-hour running time (including break) there were some long set-ups and gaps between effects. Jamie is a passionate storyteller and spent a lot of the time telling us about his childhood and how he became a magician that although authentic occasionally seemed a little shoehorned to suit the next effect.
Unfortunately, on the night his signature trick using iPads went wrong and he was not able to perform it. It was a real shame as it's a stunning piece of artistic magic and it's worth checking out his performance on the BBC One Show on YouTube.
Amaze has enough joy and wonder to recommend it to anyone aged 5-105.
Even the most hardened sceptics will start believing in magic.
Jamie also sells his own box of tricks in the foyer, an ideal Christmas present for any
budding magician.
Where: Criterion Theatre 218-223 Piccadilly, London, W1J 9HR
When: Friday 18 October – Saturday 23 November
Tuesday – Friday at 7.30pm Saturday at 2pm and 8pm Sunday at 2pm and 6pm
Running time: 2 hours (inc interval)
Booking Box office: criterion-theatre.co.uk
Tel: 033 33 202 895
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