Lighthouse Immersive Presents Jamie Allan’s MAGIC IMMERSIVE Review — A Night of Tricks and Illusions

Seeing a reproduction of a straitjacket that the famed magician and escapist Houdini wore, mere steps from an exhibit on Jean-Eugène Robert-Houdin’s orange tree illusion, urges you to marvel at magic’s rich and storied history—and the impact former past generations have had on the present. Moving from space to space across Magic Immersive’s two stories of exhibits and performances, youare thrust into the work of countless magicians and inventors who have propelled the art of magic for centuries.

Lighthouse Immersive MAGIC IMMERSIVE
Caitlin McKeon

Magic’s Past and Future on Display in MAGIC IMMERSIVE

For VIP guests, a trip to Magic Immersive entails three distinct, yet connected, components. You’ll begin in a museum-like exhibit detailing a history of some of the artform’s most famous magicians and their illusions. Penn and Teller, Harry Houdini, David Copperfield, and other magicians all have displays chronicling their careers and work. An interactive component lets you pose for a photo in front of an image of Copperfield that makes it appear as if you are being levitated. At one end of the exhibit, television screens showcase archival performances of a woman being sawed in half, showing how different magicians have put their own spin on this trick over the decades.

Lighthouse Immersive MAGIC IMMERSIVE
From left to right, Caitlin McKeon, Mareesha Klups, and Edmond Clark

After spending some time exploring magic’s history, VIP guests will be ushered to a 20-minute parlor show for some close-up tricks. Sean Watson’s comedic array of close-up tricks utilize music and a variety of props to keep the evening moving. From a rope escape (with knots tied by an audience volunteer) to a magical card reveal using a large legal pad and a hand-drawn prediction, Watson’s performance is a polished and energetic transition from the curated history exhibit to its main event.

The final component of Magic Immersive is the live stage show. VIP and premier audience members sit in long banks facing each other, with other audience members milling about below on the floor. At each end of the performance venue are two large stages where magicians perform an array of big-scale stage illusions. Over the 45-minute performance, new illusions are performed alongside historic tricks like the bullet catch, levitation, and a water escape just feet away from audience members. If you’re on the opposite side from where the action happens to be occurring, large television screens ensure that you have a front-row seat to each trick.

Lighthouse Immersive Presents a Sample Platter of Illusions

Lighthouse Immersive has crammed a broad array of illusions, history, and tricks into its fast-moving hour-and-a-half long experience. At its heart, the experience is more akin to a sample platter of various styles and types of magic, rather than a full-course meal. To this reviewer, the array translated to a sometimes-disjointed experience, even if the illusions on display were both exciting and mesmerizing. However, for families with kids with shorter attention spans who’d rather experience more breadth than depth, Magic Immersive could be just the ticket. As an immersive foray into magic’s rich history, this sample platter is a worthy appetizer before graduating to shows at Chicago Magic Lounge or the Palmer House Hotel.

Lighthouse Immersive MAGIC IMMERSIVE
Caitlin McKeon
Lighthouse Immersive MAGIC IMMERSIVE
Caitlin McKeon
Lighthouse Immersive MAGIC IMMERSIVE
From left to right, Edmond Clark, and Molly Keczan
Lighthouse Immersive MAGIC IMMERSIVE
Caitlin McKeon
Lighthouse Immersive MAGIC IMMERSIVE
The Magic Drill
Lighthouse Immersive MAGIC IMMERSIVE
Caitlin McKeon
Lighthouse Immersive MAGIC IMMERSIVE
From left to right, Edmond Clark, and Molly Keczan

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WHEN:

Through January 2

WHERE:

360 N. State St.
Chicago

TICKETS:

$45+, with VIP Option***

For more information on Magic Immersive Website

Photos By Volodymyr Kevorkov

Note: Picture This Post reviews are excerpted by Theatre in Chicago.

Brent Ervin-Eickhoff

About the Author: Brent Ervin-Eickhoff

Brent fell in love with storytelling as a 2nd grader, making a movie about wizards in his backyard with his mother's borrowed camcorder. Since then, he has worked on countless creative projects as a filmmaker, writer, and stage director. In all of his work, Brent's goal is to foster creative experiences that offer others a deeper understanding of the impact their choices have on the world around them.

When he isn't working on a creative project, Brent enjoys trying out new recipes, attending live concerts, and playing Ultimate Frisbee. While he wouldn't claim to be particularly athletic, competing in pick-up games where "spirit of the game" is just as important as skill is right up his alley.

Read more about him and other Picture this Post writers on the Picture this Post Masthead.

Click here to read more Picture this Post articles by Brent Ervin-Eickhoff

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