Was The Illusionists Really Great on Broadway?

[SarahNYC2]

Posted: 10/9/16 at 5:22pm

I just saw The Illusionists in Orlando and was bored to death. My daughter who is 8 seemed to enjoy it. Since my time is limited in NYC I am trying to get theater in here-I bought these tickets because I heard that The Illusionists were so great they were going back to Broadway.

Just kind of curious-do they do a different show on Broadway? it's hard for me to believe the show I saw today is the same one being performed on Broadway. 

[HogansHero]

Posted: 10/9/16 at 5:50pm

was horrible. at least the half i saw

[haterobics]

Posted: 10/9/16 at 6:15pm

It's OK, but if I were coming to NYC, I'd skip it and see plays/musicals. It is probably going to be somewhat the same show. I mean, the Asian guy has an amazing routine, but I think he's been doing that one routine for a while now...

[KathyNYC2]

Posted: 10/9/16 at 6:17pm

I saw it last year at the Simon..once was more than enough for me. I mean I guess if you are into magic and it's your thing..you would enjoy it.

[SarahNYC2]

Posted: 10/9/16 at 7:04pm

Thanks! I have no intentions of seeing it in NYC. I'm sorry I saw it in Orlando. I was just curious whether it was so phenomenal in NYC. We get to NYC so rarely that I have a list of shows I plan to see. I'm just surprised this was such a hit and that it's coming back.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 10/9/16 at 10:02pm

Is the production value good at all? Or does it feel like a touring show?

[ivandixon2]

Posted: 10/10/16 at 12:40am

They averaged less than 1,000 in attendance last year so why they are going into the 1,740 seat Palace this year is a mystery.

[SarahNYC2]

Posted: 10/10/16 at 12:28pm

I thought the one I saw was a waste of money. However my daughter did seem to enjoy it-so I am trying to not kick myself too much for wasting money. Also probably cheaper than seeing in NYC. 

However I go on many cruises-I have seen better Magic Shows on the cruises I have gone on. Heck I hired a magician for a BBQ a few months ago who I thought was better than The Illusionists.

I just can't fathom how this is making money in NYC.

[broadfan327]

Posted: 10/10/16 at 1:16pm

The version I saw last year was a lot of card tricks.  It wasn't that good.  It certainly felt like a touring show.

[Jakeevan942]

Posted: 10/10/16 at 4:37pm

The illusionists plays very much to a tourist crowd in NY.

There show this year is a new show that has not yet played in the States; it's been selling out venues across Asia, Europe, and Australia. Unlike the current version, which is just each of the performers doing their magic, the new show has somewhat of a through line plot about the golden age of magic at the turn of the century, with themed sets, costumes, and illusions.

This version of the show also features Tommy Ten and Amelie, the Clairvoyants from America's Got Talent this summer; several of the their performances, costumes and all, were bits from the illusionists. They have been performing as part of the company of this show for the past few years, but have now been upgraded to star status, and are the main reason for the move to the larger theater, unless Nederlander needs the Lunt for more time to load in Willy Wonka.

For those who have seen the road show recently, the first year of the tour was playing on Broadway seasons in full week markets, hence a fuller physical production. The current tour plays mostly one and two nighters, often loading in for a 4pm twilight show, it's a smaller physical show to pull this off week in and week out.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 10/10/16 at 4:43pm

I saw the first performance in Orlando last week and thought it was dreadful. An embarrassment that this was part of our "Broadway season."

[Wick3]

Posted: 12/30/16 at 10:45am

I saw this show last week when my friend won the digital lottery. They have so many shows a day during the holidays (11am, 3pm, 7pm?) that I guess it's one of the easy digital lotteries to win?

Anyway, our lottery seats were in the side mezzanine, second row, and it was great! We weren't picked (whew) to go up to the stage since you have to be in the orchestra for that. The tricks that amazed us were cutting the person in half and the clairvoyants. They correctly guessed a stranger's birthdate without looking at their drivers license or anything! Certain acts were a bit boring and it was comical to see a 7 year old kid didn't know what the 4 of spades were (she called it 4 black things) .. I guess kids these days don't have to play with a deck of cards to be entertained.

[Theater3232]

Posted: 12/30/16 at 11:28am

I was also bored to death when I saw it last year.  It was way too long and felt padded with tons of "fluff" to stretch it to an interminable 2 hours 20+ minutes.  The sound level was way too loud as well (sorta like if you were hearing impaired and blasting your TV at full volume.)

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 8/22/18 at 11:17am

They're back... again.

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/THE-ILLUSIONISTS-Returns-To-Broadway-This-Winter-With-MAGIC-OF-THE-HOLIDAYS-20180822

[TheSassySam]

Posted: 8/22/18 at 11:20am

BroadwayConcierge said: "They're back... again.

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/THE-ILLUSIONISTS-Returns-To-Broadway-This-Winter-With-MAGIC-OF-THE-HOLIDAYS-20180822"

 

Will 2017's Home for the Holidays be in the cast with their magic trick on making the audience disappear?