London Coliseum, London
****
Creative Director - Ash Jacks McCready
Illusion Director - Enzo Weyne
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| Enzo Weyne |
Inspired by the Lionsgate blockbuster franchise and mounted by the producers of The Illusionists, the London premiere of Now You See Me Live trades in some of the smaller scale intimate style magic for high-tech illusion, solo stunts and set pieces built for altitude. The films rested on a beguiling premise: that the finest deception is performed at scale, in plain sight, daring you to catch it. Onstage there is no cutaway and nowhere to hide — and the show takes that dare gladly. It arrives having already conquered the Sydney Opera House, with Las Vegas waiting its turn in October.
The foursome united as The Horseman go by Enzo Weyne, Andrew Basso, Gabriella Lester and Matthew Pomeroy, with guest turns from Eden Choi, Fraser Penman and recent BGT finalist Rafferty Coope — a billing that reaches across the generations. Basso has toured escapology for twenty years and Weyne has built over a thousand shows in 40 countries, while Lester, at 22, already headlines the Magic Castle. Rafferty Coope, a Golden Buzzer and a fifth place on Britain’s Got Talent behind him, is barely out of his teens. Yet nobody here is a filler: the stage is set, and while at times the pace can falter, the bar is high and met without exception. Audience involvement is peppered throughout.
With an emphatic opening from Rafferty, the youngest of the company, to daring escapology from Lester and Basso and some of the most quick, detailed and breath taking close up magic and manipulation from Eden Choi the show has something for everyone.
From explosives, to teleporting and creepy crawlies in the most unexpected of moments this is a show that sets out to entertain the masses of all ages. Here for five weeks before it travels to Las Vegas, Now You See Me Live is a theatrical special that will entertain the whole family.
Runs until 6th September
Phot credit: Johan Persson
