Your Favorite Piece of Stage Magic — Page 2

The amazing transformation from the ruined theater to Loveland in the original FOLLIES

I agree, the Follies transformation was truly breathtaking.

The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby, from beginning to end, all 9 hours of it. Highlights include:

-The Crummles theatrical troupe
-transition between the starving of London via a simple turn of the bodies, to the rich revelors
-several characterizations by Suzanne Bertish
-making of the stagecoach
-the ending, the full cast singing God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, when Nicholas notices the hungry waif, and picks him up

I find it interesting that so many people are saying when Mary Poppins flies, because my favorite "magical" moment from that show (though not by a long shot my favorite magical moment ever, I'd have to think about that more) was Bert dancing on the ceiling.

Agree with a lot said already, but just throw in;

9-5, in potion lotion, when all 3 girls appear from under the sheet.

Shrek, when baby shrek transforms to big shrek and the castle scene with the 3 fiona's

Billy Elliot, Swan Lake

Love Never Dies, The Horse and Cart

"The Drowsy Chaperone" always intrigued me with the simplicity, for the most part, of the story coming to life in the apartment. From people exiting though the refrigerator, to something as simple as using a toaster a a vase. of a floor lamp as a spotlight. Just really cute and clever.

I love the opening in Pippin where the gloves create the illusion of all of those hands floating around.

Two things:

No matter where or when, but when Anna and the King polka, and the audience clap like nuts! The music is amazing!

The final moments of the 2007 London revival of Fiddler On The Roof. A black stage with only one spot light crossing diagonally from top right to bottom left, and Tevye looking up as snow starts to fall, and then turning around and walking away into the darkness...

Peter Pan flying into the audience. That was the first PROFESSIONAL show both my kids saw...the looks on their faces of absolute joy and wondermnent will NEVER be topped.

Other moments:
- Dot's dress in SITPWG from the original.
- The ending of the original SITPWG as the current park re transforms to the past...and George has found his purpose. I bawled uncontrollably when I first saw that.
- The entire production of the current South Pacific (OC), but the moment they pulled the "cover" away to reveal the orchestra was beautiful!
- The reveal of the set of the Man of La Mancha revival. I cried. My date said (about my tears), 'Are you kidding me?' We didn't see each other after that.
- The rain during An Inspector Calls
- The moment I realized the Beggar Woman was Todd's wife!
- Esparza's handling of the dialogue in Speed the Plow. Wow.
- The last terrfying minutes of Wait Until Dark
- Everything about De la Guarda (a truly cathartic piece of theatre.)
- "Taxi" in Bring in da' Noise, Bring in the Funk (So wonderful!)
- So many moments in August: Osage County. (Eat your f%@king fish!)

I'm sure there are more...but good enough for now.

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Updated On: 7/11/10 at 12:11 PM

The end of Cromer's OUR TOWN. Now, THAT'S magic.

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There's a moment in August: Osage County, right after Barbara tells Bill that she knows her father's dead, and there's a blackout accompanied by this horrible shrieking noise. I remember liking that very much.

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- Defying Gravity in Wicked
- The set transition from the lounge to the dressing room in Sister Act
- Beauty And The Beast's prologue and the beast's transformation

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