Magician Chris Cox. Photo courtesy of “The Illusionists.”
Five of the world’s finest magicians have joined forces to baffle and mystify audiences in a production that features mind reading, vanishing acts, and even a snowstorm. Amidst a steady stream of comic relief—frequently generated by unsuspecting audience members called on stage to assist the performers—the illusionists display their seeming abilities to defy the laws of physics.
…provides a fun evening for the whole family and a truly unforgettable production that you will ponder long after the magicians have disappeared.
Each member of the international cast has a specialty. The youngest magician, known as “The Unforgettable” (Pablo Cánovas), hails from Spain and has mastered the art of disappearing and reappearing when and where you least expect him. Direct from the United Kingdom, “The Mentalist” (Chris Cox) has an uncanny ability to read minds, accurately guessing strangers’ birthdays, professions, and astrological signs, and South Korea’s “The Manipulator” (Hyunjoon Kim) appears able to pluck a never-ending stream of playing cards out of thin air. There are also a pair of homegrown, American magicians. “The Trickster” (David Williamson) dazzled a group of young children by bringing a stuffed raccoon to life, and “The Inventor” (Kevin James) managed to saw a person in half, create snow from the remnants of a napkin, and transform tissue paper into a long-stemmed red rose.
The Illusionists are accompanied by magician’s assistant, Claudia James, who plays a vital role in facilitating the magic tricks, and dancers Eloise Harpas, Jesus Sepluveda, Cat Ferrier, and Casey Roxas, who filled the stage with their own theatrical magic. Moments of shock and surprise are made possible in part by Travis Pigman’s lighting design, and the atmosphere of otherworldly mystery is helped along significantly by Wardrobe Designer Shannon O’Donnell’s somewhat Goth-like costumes. Jenn Rapp directs the production.
“The Illusionists” provides a fun evening for the whole family and a truly unforgettable production that you will ponder long after the magicians have disappeared.
Running Time: Two hours and 10 minutes with a 15-minute intermission.
Advisory: Recommended for age 7 and up.
“The Illusionists” runs through April 28, 2024, in the Kennedy Center Opera House, 2700 F Street NW, Washington, DC 20566. For more information and to purchase tickets, go online.
