Beyond the Mirror @ Absinthe Artisan

Lets talk about the show itself. The plots behind the show were intricately designed and textured so that laymen and magicians alike are guaranteed to have some takeaways. This is my first time watching a formal close up magic show and it was definitely one of the most memorable highlights for me this past week.

Photo Credits: Bernard Sim

This is not your ordinary show which features cards and coins tricks. You will start to feel the difference right from the opening of the show which features the use of very unique props. The show then progresses into something very different as the plots transits into a gambling theme with loads of audience participation involved. Obviously not forgetting to blow you away, you can expect JC to delve into your heads and read your thoughts. The most memorable routine for me was JC’s “Morgan Mysteries” routine which features a beautiful plot which is guaranteed to turn your brains into a can of cream. For those who just like visually stunning magic, JC closes the show with his reknowned dice-explosion routine which I witnessed in person for the first time. Nothing more appropriate than closing your show with audible gasps of surprise coming from the members of the audience.

Photo Credits: Bernard Sim

After the show, the members of the audience were actively discussing about different segments of the show. I’m sure JC’s performance left a resounding impact in the audiences in one way or another.

Show Rating: 8.5/10

On a side note, members of the audience get to receive a goodie bag which contains a pack of customised playing cards and a “Jellybird”! The product  is basically a jelly with alcoholic content. It tastes amazing and Im definitely getting more for my own parties in the future. Check out the product by clicking here!

For this show we had Sherman Tang opening the evening’s performance. For those who do not know, Sherman came in 1st place for ‘Legerdemain’. a close up / parlour  magic competition, organised by the Singapore Magic Circle back in 2007. We first saw him perform his dove act back during the Redefine Magic Convention back in 2009.  Shermon Tang continued to enthrall his audience with his stage magic performance as he opened the evening’s performance with a cube zag illusion. Most memorable for me was his amusing production of Joey the parrot. It was one of the more original acts I’ve seen and it definitely caught the audiences off guard. He closed off with a grand illusion which he designed himself, where a girl is compressed,vanishes into thin air and is reproduced again.

Pambudi is a well known mentalist within the magician’s community who moved to Indonesia a few years back. It was great to see his return performance in Singapore. He is definitely an experienced performer and his act was one of the most entertaining performances of the evening. The main drawback that im sure most audience would agree with me was the ear piercing feedback and audio sounds that came when Pambudi spoke. He also chose a spectator which caused him quite a handful but Pambudi’s experience showed and he managed to steer through his segment without much hip-cups.

I’ve heard of a young talented magician named Markson but have never actually saw him perform till that day.  His stage presence was well demonstrated through his clear articulation and delivery as well as his fluid performance. However I must say that I was expecting a much longer dove/manipulation act. With that said, I’m not a fan of performances that will put audiences in awkward situations. His ‘chicken dance’ and 21st century bra act did not go down well with me as I felt embarrassed for the spectator on stage. Markson concluded his segment with another short act with D’lites and lots of colourful confetti, classic but it was not a performance that would make him memorable in my opinion.

Jeff Leong from Malaysia performed a version of bill to orange. I found the among of time he spent behind his box a tad too lengthy. In general I felt that his act felt too casual due to his laid back delivery style and it did not come across as a professional act to me. Some people may find him more affable that way but that’s just my personal take =). Jeff finished off his performance with a chair suspension of a young girl from the audience. From a magician’s point of view, I always viewed a chair suspension illusion as visually weak and that it lacked the wow factor. After I watched Jeff’s performance of the chair suspension, I must admit that he made me look at the illusion in a more positive light.

Kiki Tay…Wow what I can say. Being the anchor magician for this series of Scape Magic Carnival, I have seen his performances countless times but they never fail to make me burst into laughter or crack a smile. The previous 2 Scape Magic Carnivals was epecially memorable to me as he introduced his new act. It is a visual spectacle of UV lights, lasers and magic. This month’s performance saw Kiki debuting a laser illusion which is one of the most cutting edge and modern form of magic available I’ve seen to date. I have come across similar performances on youtube but nothing beats watching it live. He closed the evening with a performance where he produced ‘snow’ (confetti) for Jessica, a much talked about piece from his ‘Just Kiki kidding’ theatre show in 2006. It generated much abuzz and positive response back then but I wasn’t touched by the performance probably because I had seen it online before. I would also preferred it if he had ended off the show on a high note with his laser/light manipulation act instead of a ‘sad’/touching act like the former mentioned.

Overall, it was a visual candy fiesta for audiences who turned up for Scape Magic Carnival (July 2011) and I sincerely look forward to more interesting featured magicians in future editions of Scape Magic Carnival. Singapore is definitely filled with amazing magic talents waiting to be uncovered! Can’t wait to see more of them in action! =D

My friends and I have always enjoyed local magic productions. Every show has a very different style to it.
This year we had the chance to catch “Vision”, a multi-million dollar production at the Esplanade theatre hall.

It was an eye opener for all of us. There have been few magicians, if not at all, who blends in stagecraft, theatrical arts and magic together as well as the duo.

While some critics may may feel that the show “Needs more magic less theatrics”, I felt otherwise. As an enthusiast who enjoys magic more than musicals, I find that “Vision” maintained a good balance with the best of both worlds & it worked like a charm.

For a more objective view point, I had my sister write down her thoughts after the show and here it is.

” Last night I rewarded myself with a Vision quite like no other. It has been 24 hours but I still can’t quite decide how to begin on the task of describing something quite indescribable.

The show’s theme centered on a father and daughter relationship, bringing us into their world of challenges and imagination. The story unfolds in Two Acts, with dancing, amazing stage set ups and illusions interwoven in each scene. The audience was welcomed with high energy dance moves that oozed of “Las Vegas” and that set the tone throughout the play.

The plot starts when Priscilla rehearses one of her favourite illusions, hoping that her father will include it in their next show. To her disappointment, he doesn’t agree. As an audience, it was an ingenious way of placing an act within an act. Particularly intriguing was when Priscilla disappeared into another world right before our very eyes. The audience could see her shadow the entire time and as her fingers twirled through the translucent screen I could hear a string of gasps from the audience. Where was she?

As with any magic extravaganza, the disappearing and reappearing act ensues throughout the show. (Lawrence and Priscilla made a sports car appear in one scene). But what impressed me the most was how Vision managed to merge dramatic story telling, choreography and illusions with immaculate dramatic timing and design. One of my favourite scenes was “The Goldfish Bowl”, where the backdrop changes to an underwater scene, perfected with dancing Goldfishes and impeccable choreography. As Lawrence and Priscilla enter strange worlds in their imagination, the magic continues and the audiences were entertained by coin acts, rings, and escapes from a magical slide. Because of the magnitude of the performance, the smaller visual illusions (such as the ring and newspaper act) did little to sustain the visual spectacular that was established from the start.

“Slightly Scarlet” was the last scene of the first act. Lawrence and Priscilla were brought back to the 50s where the Capitol Theatre was still in business. Audiences were enjoying a romantic sneak preview of this old movie, until a group of dancers appeared in an originally empty caravan. The drastic change in energy was very well designed and implemented. Lawrence then meets himself as a boy and reminisces on his first experience with Magic. The plot thickens with Priscilla sharing with young Lawrence that there is no magic, only tricks. This sets the tone for Act Two, where everything becomes darker and more intriguing than ever.

In Act Two the protagonists showed their transition beyond merely magic but also acting and performing. My favourite scene happens when Priscilla meets her father in an old house with a clock that doesn’t move. The hour glass act was particularly apt at that point in time; symbolising the time lapse that they have woven themselves into yet it alludes the control that Priscilla still has over her consciousness. The audiences were also pleasantly surprised with the dancers, who were as graceful as chameleons; adding spice to the setting.

It was  clear to me when the curtains came down that Vision was more than a magic show. It was an amalgamating of musical dance, drama, aesthetically outstanding backdrops and settings, completed with revolutionary illusions. What made the show unique were not the stand alone components but rather the cleverly executed concoction of all. “

It was a pleasure for the RDM crew to be at “M” for magic event last night. As always, to support our local talents, I also bought tickets for several friends and family members to be part of the whole experience. I am fortunate enough to be acquainted with all the performers since years back. Thus it was a joy to watch how much everyone matured and improved over time.

One of the most valuable advice I got from a professional was: never to lose the ability to look at our own magic from a laymen’s point of view. After hours of persuasion, I had my lovely sister spend her time writing her thoughts on it all, as a non magician.
And here it is.

Mount Sophia turned out to be a close up magician’s dream. Despite having to alleviate oneself by a thousand steps to arrive (teleportation would have been useful here). I was immediately pleased with the cozy and personal environment.   Seated on the rear end did not impede our view of the performance at all. There was a sense of connection. Not only with the performer, but also with the rest of the audience. A social gathering of sorts, with Magic in the centre of it all.

JC Sum opened the show with the classic three fly routine called Silver Teleportation. His easy charisma and banter with the audience warmed them up immediately. Particularly intriguing was his blindfold act. The unassuming participant’s reaction was epic and intensified the overall effect. He definitely chose the right guy. Something that doesn’t happen by accident.

Alvin was next. With his tall physique, he exudes an easy presence. His fork bending routine, coupled with an element of comedic presentation, successfully got us acquainted with him. What set Alvin back in the overall effectiveness of his performance was perhaps the attempted Mind Reading experiment. It was a tricky stunt to perform and his predictions were slightly compromised. That left us with a feeling of incompleteness and doubt. His last routine, unfortunately, suffered the same.

The stage was passed on to Samuel, someone whose magic I have yet to experience. Based on the first impression he could have relied on a more formal dress-code to establish that credibility. His first coin to glass act was relatively impressive. Got me sitting up , watching more carefully. Unfortunately, the next money travelling routine was disappointing. A wrong choice of volunteer (aka drunk and overly high) made it seem like he lost control of his performance. The saving grace came in his final routine, the classic sponge bunnies! Yay! It was my favorite. I didn’t expect him to make so many. Also the story leading to how they were conceived made the finale more entertaining and conclusive.

Having seen Alexander perform back in Legerdemain 2010, I had high expectations for his act. He established rapport immediately, with effortless charisma and wit, signalling a well rehearsed and thought-out routine. Anyone can perform coin travelling tricks, but not everyone can do it with an arresting patter and a faultless delivery. Teasing the audience along the way, Alexander makes seemless transitions between his four routines. He brings personality back to magic. What impressed me the most was the second card trick, where a moving blade takes over, slices through the deck and produced the card that an audience picked. It was refreshing  and that is exactly what endears the audience to him. Lastly, we have the cups and balls routine. What a fruitful experience! Literally, in the end we were left with a Lemon, a Lime, and a Tomato!

Have you ever seen a guy swallow a dozen needles? Well, I have. Although I can’t quite appreciate the entertainment quality of it, it definitely got a reaction from me and my friends. Suffice to say, Ming Da’s act gave a nice variety to the night’s line up.

JC Sum returned for the last performance of the night, a rather smart routine that left a stunning visual image and a dramatic closure. An artistry of sorts, a table full of dice. According to neuroscientists, audiences tend to judge a night’s performance based on the first and last performance. Well if that’s the case, I have no doubt that the audiences left Mount Sophia with a lot of respect and awe for magicians that night.

Review Co-Written by Zann Lee (Right)

“M for Magic” is a 10-episode TV magic program, featuring 14 young Singapore Magicians performing their magic on the crowded streets of Singapore. If you’ve yet to catch any of our local talents, click here and take a look! (:

Some of these brilliant performers were also given the chance to perform in a “live” spin-off theatre show with a captive audience. Tickets were priced between $10 – $25 & it was quite a great turnout!

I arrived late, after Kyle Ravin opened the show, and next up was Matthew Lee (RDM’s Creative Designer). Having known Matthew for a while, I was sure that this competent, stylish performer with a sharp tongue would be hated by some, but talked about by many. Fork bending, Bill switch & an appearing rose, coupled with a lot of personality, brought many laughs and entertainment. As a “people’s choice award” winner, I was awed by both his technical competency and amusing patter.

Adeline opened her segment with some juggles which is always nice for a change. She then performed a similar feat as with what she did on the TV series.

While I could see how impactful an effect like that would be to the lay audience, graphics on the card was difficult to see from afar. A slightly larger A5 print out would have made it perfect for everyone.
Adeline also closed her part with a juggling act, and once again, its refreshing to see how she blends in magic with juggling.

Kyle Ravin came back on and brought about alot of hype within the theatre. Its amazing how he can get the crowd excited all the time. I’ve never been fond of straight jacket escapes and never could understand why it was magic. Kyle admitted to the audience that its more than that. Its a stunt and its real. While I don’t enjoy watching anyone struggle out of a “mad-man’s jacket”, to me, the real magic with Kyle’s effect was the foreplay that went on before the escape happened. As what many say “Its not about the destination, so much as the ride.”

Finally JC sum closed tonight’s act with a series of routines from “Urban Underground”. It was a great display of both flawless techniques and thoughtful presentation. Who couldn’t expect less from the director of the whole show? His effects revolved around the theme of gambling and swindles, combined with witty lines & good pacing. Its definitely an appealing show for both heart-landers and corporate clients. There was a lot to learn for magicians, watching JC sum put up a well routined act.

As a fellow practitioner of the craft, tonight was a rewarding experience. As a laymen, its an unforgettable evening of laughs, entertainment & wonder.

Kiki Tay & Miss Mole

Within minutes since show started, everyone were laughing along. The duo performed a comedy routine with Miss Mole as the difficult assistant messing up Kiki’s effects. That plot alone sounds funny enough. There were alot of gags but not at the cost of magical revelations or effects. It was obvious that Miss Mole’s character was carefully thought out and crafted. Every move she made showcased her personality.

Kiki closed the show for the night with a dramatic theatrical act. Many went speechless at how beautiful it was. He literally lit up the entire theatre with stars. I really can’t explain it, & even a picture would barely do it justice.

Danny Koh

Best known for his Fire magic and his appearances on One Moment of Glory. It was a privilege to see this signature, much talked about, “SMOKE MACHINE” at work. Juggling with fire, dancing amongst the flames, he really heated up the whole place with his showmanship & dynamism. As he reaches the climax, we couldn’t hold back our applause, watching him manipulate… smoke. His passion, hard work and experiences of over a decade truly shows in his act.

Kyle Ravin

The first time I’ve seen Kyle was on stage doing his mask act. I was truly impressed what he accomplished back when he was just a young teenager. However, his choice of routines for the night was disappointing.

His stage illusion was well done as always. The classic vanishing lady… with a costume change at the end. This little additional touch helped to make the revelation of the lady a little more visual. But in my opinion it complicates the otherwise clever illusion causing many unnecessary suggestions to the audience. Following that, Kyle performed an interactive version of the classic sword box & Mac King’s “Vanishing Head” effect, with his own unique presentation revolving around “cures for headaches”. Finally he closed the performance with a self levitation; which by itself would have been a weak effect. But known for being both a creative & articulate performer, Kyle presented it well along with the right music to bring it to a nice closure.

Mystifying Imran

Another one of Singapore’s celebrity magician, Imran displayed great dexterity as he opened with a manipulation act & multiplying doves. There is a unique style that he brings across in his magic. Along with the perfect choice of music he performed the classic “Sands of the Dessert”. In my opinion, it looks even better in his hands compared to Taiwan’s superstar magician.

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It was an evening of enchantment. A treat to all of us, watching such brilliant performers at their best. An inspirational show through the months, urging hobbyist and professionals to push ourselves even harder towards our passion & making our dreams come true. & for that, the show was priceless.

Both our young local talents and seasoned performers brought out the child in each of us. You could literally hear cheers, laughs and applause throughout the entire show.

As the director of the event, Kiki Tay really worked his way around the crowd and did several routines that appealed to all ages. He opened his segment with a sequence from his signature comedy act;

And as always, it was a perfect lead on to the rest of his entertaining acts. In my honest opinion, Kiki’s performances was worth more than the price of the ticket itself.

Poof! And there was Xiang Zhi..

Up and rising young star, Xiang Zhi opened the show tonight with highly visual effects that kept our eyes glued to the stage. Many in the audience gasped at the sight of his final stage illusion. At his young age, having such showmanship and confidence was magic by itself.

As the only female performer for the night, Ms Daisy showed cased her very own style of “Kawaii Magic”. While she may not have grand illusions to stunt the crowds, her one of a kind presentation along with the right beats was delightful to watch. A pleasant change from the usual dynamic style of magic that we may be too familiar with.

Jeremy Tan risks his Magic Hands for our entertainment pleasure

Jeremy Tan got many sitting at the edge of their seats during his “Russian Roulette” routine. Especially after explaining how it went terribly wrong last November as the nail went straight through the palm of his hand. He followed up with an impossible mind reading experiment where he accurately predicted several responses from the audiences. What was most puzzling was how the predictions were already made way before the show and locked up! That ought to keep many thinking hard on their way home.

Last but never the least, Dean Wong, 13 years old showed us just how capable he is despite his age. His dancing cane routine was admirable. It definitely put many who call themselves magicians to shame. My partner actually commented on how he’s more charming than myself. (I shall flatter him no further.)

All the performers taking a bow and a well deserved round of applause

A wise man told me once that magic is all about entertainment. Many interviewed after the show said that the show brought along a lot of laughs.
I came to realize one thing after today.

“People may never remember every piece of magic we share. But they will never forget how it made them feel. “

Kiki's Hilarious Act

I didn’t expect to actually be entertained, but I was. I didn’t expect to laugh out loud, but at some points I was giggling like a schoolgirl. And I certainly didn’t expect to enjoy myself, but I did.

However despite the fact that I had a lot of fun, there were also quite a number of things I thought could have been done better. I’ll touch in them later in the review.

For those who are wondering exactly what the Scape Magic Carnival is supposed to be, I direct you to Kiki Tay’s blog entry where he talks about it -> http://www.kikitayblog.com/2011/01/what-is-scape-magic-carnival.html

Essentially, its supposed to be a platform to showcase magical talent from all over Singapore. When I went on 13th Feb, the lineup included some fresh faces whom I had never seen in performance before. That in itself is no small achievement. Kudos to Kiki for giving these talents an opportunity to stretch their performing muscles.

The show took place at Scape’s theatre. While I’m normally quite forgiving when it comes to venues, I didn’t like the place. I felt that the stage was a little too high and the audience too low. The angle was odd and I couldn’t really see some acts properly. That being said, perhaps this is a simple configuration problem and easily remedied.

Once I had a good seat and was settled in comfortably, I was able to enjoy the show – the performers tonight were (in order) Jazz, Jack Froze, Jy Novin, & Uncle Jimbo. I’m going to give feedback on the performances act by act.

Jazz Ang

Jazz performed the usual stage/parlor type routine that magicians are so fond of doing nowadays – parasols, silks etc. There were some interesting moments in the first part (parasol levitation anyone?) but otherwise its basically your standard routine. He had an interesting use of the D’lites that I really liked – I wish he did a little more of that and less of the silks/umbrella stuff, but that’s just my preference. Jazz chose to close his segment with the (in)famous floating table. At the risk of sounding mean-spirited, I have to say this – I don’t think this was up to par. The floating table is less of a magic effect and more of a mime – to do it really well requires a ridiculous amount of technique, which in my opinion most magicians do not possess.

Still he shows promise and I like that he at least tries to apply some original thinking to his magic.

Kiki seems to have forgotten something

Kiki performed next, and although this was his first appearance in the show, he would continue to pop up at various points during the night (probably to tide over the setup times of the various performers and whatnot). As someone who has never seen Kiki perform before, I had no idea what to expect. It soon became clear to me that he is an extremely capable entertainer. Kiki possesses a knack for eliciting guffaws from an audience by using the smallest, ‘lamest’ things that a lesser performer would never get away with. Excellent comedic timing. Each and every time he appeared on stage, the audience knew they were in for a treat. If there is any criticism to be made of him, it is probably that he tends to sacrifice magical effect for comedy, but I’m sure that was intentional here as the proverbial spotlight was on the other magicians.

Jack Froze (Frost?)

The next performer to take the stage was ‘Jack Froze’ (pronounced Jack Frost). He performed a Bill in Lemon and then ended with the Floating Fire Rose (Kevin James). I’m not quite sure what happened towards the end of his performance of the Bill in Lemon, but either he made a mistake or the he has some strange ideas for spectator handling. I’m willing to give the benefit of doubt on this though, as he performed the rest of the effect competently. However his next act, the Floating Fire Rose was quite badly done. I cannot say more without giving away the method, but suffice to say the audience pretty much knew how the effect was achieved, and were somewhat underwhelmed when he produced the final load, as it was a little small, and didn’t really look anything like a rose. This performance was for me, unfortunately, the weakest performance of the evening.

JY Norvin

Jy Novin was next, and I must confess I hadn’t heard of this particular performer before. He came on stage and performed yet another example of the usual stage/parlor routine, with the usual props. Although there were some technical difficulties mid-way through the routine (It looked like a prop was either not there or setup wrongly), I actually see some potential in his handling of the props – you can tell he has a flair for magic, and probably quite a high natural dexterity. My only complaint for his act was that it was far, far too long. However, given his age and that he probably hasn’t been in magic for very long, he did a commendable job.

Uncle Jimbo!

Uncle Jimbo was the last of the magical talents on display. I’ve never actually seen him perform though I’ve heard much about him, and I’m happy to say he lives u p to his name. I really liked his opening act, which I’m going to nominate for the Merlin Award ‘Most Innovative Use of an Appearing Candle’.  The rest of his act was good too, and his professionalism really showed.

Kiki closed the show with an inspirational piece in the vein of David Copperfield’s Grandfather Aces. While I felt it was quite magical, it seemed a little out of character for him (at least what we’ve seen of him throughout the show). Still, it was an appropriate closer to the show.

Despite my criticisms, I still really enjoyed the show – it was really good seeing all the magicians together and they deserved to be commended regardless. Their bravery at taking that step into the limelight to gain valuable live performance experience is most worthy of recognition. Kiki, ever the consummate professional, was able to keep the crowd entertained between the other performances and we all ended up having a really, really good time.

And if you are like me (which makes up majority of the magicians in Singapore), chances are you do not exactly take great interest in big scale magic (particularly with escapes).

I was cursing Thor and Vogue while making my way over to the Singapore Flyer for the New Year’s Eve Countdown. I thought it’s a privilege to cover the event as a guest at first. However,  getting squashed through the crowd certainly wasn’t enjoyable.

Then came the pleasant surprise.

I attended the event’s cocktail party as a guest. There were free flow of drinks and sweet delights. It was a prize presentation ceremony to award Lawrence and Priscilla the prestigious Merlin award and crown the two, as Sir Lawrence and Lady Priscilla. I had a chance to talk to Tony Hassini and as always his hair stole the limelight away from him.

and Merlin Award goes to.... Lawrence and Priscilla Khong!

Just a little background information on the Merlin award,  it is a prestigious title presented only to those who have achieved the highest level in their craft, both on the national and international stage. Some of the criteria includes talent, showmanship, originality, skills and above all the rare ability to entertain under any conditions. Some of these recipients includes Penn & Teller, David Copperfield, Criss Angel, Lu Chen and more recently, JC Sum and ‘Magic Babe’ Ning.
Now in Singapore we’ve our very own grand magicians for the year, Sir Lawrence and Lady Priscilla.

What better way to end the night than performing a death defying stunt! Lawrence and Priscilla were lifted up high, trapped in a cargo box and were  given just 3 minutes to escape before it detonates in mid-air. They were heavily chained, and literally more than 10kg worth of cuffs all over.

Suit up and ready to go!

Before it all started, Lawrence decided to make it harder for himself and that much more enjoyable for us. The duo gave themselves only 2.45 seconds to escape from the cargo box. As a skeptic I wasn’t sure if its that much harder for the for the both of them.

A mega scale escape!

Quite frankly the first part of the escape was a little dry. But then it came. By 2.15, the cargo exploded. Nothing was found. And then the spectators realized, we just got “punked” because they were high up at the platform on the other side.

All smiles after a very successful escape!

Right in front of your eyes. With no explanation.

That was Magic.

Sunday’s performance was the last performance and delivered in Chinese! However, that did not deter the hundreds of people, mainly supporters from Faith Community Baptist Church, who flooded the max pavilion  to catch the performance as the tickets for the English shows were sold out.

The scale of this year’s performance dwarfed their previous year’s performance and since I enjoyed last year’s show, I had high expectations for this show.

Boy, was I not disappointed.

The Grand Christmas Magic Peformance!

Boasting vast and seemingly inexhaustible resources, Christmas Magic 2010 was the biggest magic performance I had seen for the year in Singapore.

With merry melodies, huge cast, dazzling display of decorations, vibrant costumes, and grand illusions, Christmas Magic was definitely a memorable experience for the audience.

Lawrence, together with his daughter Priscilla

The father and daughter duo started off with their variation of the suspended animation illusion. Lawrence also did a multiplying balls routine that was simple and smooth, very different from the usual big illusions that he does, adding another dimension to the grand show. One illusion that impacted me was the one where Lawrence levitated Priscilla and made her vanish in mid air! It was extremely visual, coupled with theatrics and music, the magic touched me.

Throughout the whole performance, both Lawrence and Priscilla fumbled and mispronounced some words, which made me wonder how hard is it performing magic in another language – Chinese!

There were some parts of the show that could be improved on. Firstly, there were too many repetitive acts. The performance was filled with appearance and transposition acts. Lawrence appeared himself, his daughter, his grand son, two mascots, and even the whole singing crew. That diminished the ‘wow’ factor of the illusions.

Believe it.. Or not?

Secondly, as the turn out was huge, majority of the people seated could barely make out what was happening on the stage and had to rely on cameras and screens placed strategically around the venue. However, both Lawrence and Priscilla hardly looked into the cameras but instead faced the audience in the front instead. Hence, the connection between them and the  rest of the crowd could not be established.

Lastly, I went there looking forward for a mega illusion magic treat. I never expected any religious issues to be discussed during the show. It would have felt a little uncomfortable to those who went for the show purely with the intention to watch great magic. The organizers could clearly state this point when they were marketing the show.

There were three gifts which Lawrence wanted to share with the audience: faith, hope and love. Lawrence and Priscilla did rightly that. On the whole, Christmas Magic was a potent concoction that spiced up the festive mood in me. I certainly look forward to future performances of the duo!

A heartwarming sight to behold!

From everyone here at RDM, we wish you a very happy holiday!