“Artist In Residence/Nick Diffatte” reviewed by Julia W. Rath

Recommended *** The Chicago Magic Lounge is proud to present Nick Diffatte as part of their “Artist in Residence” series. A white-bread magician from Minnesota, Diffatte strikes us initially as an offbeat sort, who delights us with the basics: his playful use of cards, a bit of juggling, a bit of mentalism and mime, and the like. But what makes his magic act distinctive is the way he injects humor and self-effacement into his performance of stage magic. His interweaving of comedy into his acts of deception is fluid and well-timed. His premises are clever; his jokes are appealing; his shtick is funny (if not naughty on occasion); and he widely involves audience members in his act. “I’ve never met you before, right?”

The only downside is that some of the hands-on, close up magic that Diffatte offers doesn’t work so well in a large setting, namely the 106-seat Harry Blackstone Cabaret Theater. We really want to see the serial numbers on the dollar bill that he shows up to the audience. We really want to see the woman’s diamond ring up close to make sure it’s the same one that he purloins from her. However, his comic routine more than makes up for these slights—and serves to enliven his slights-of-hand.

Although I’ve seen live magic shows before, this was my first trip to the Chicago Magic Lounge in Andersonville. The club is a blast from the past, reminiscent of Old Chicago, where cozy magic bars preceded the dawn of movies and television. What is most impressive about the venue are the hidden surprises throughout, such as the incorporation of both a real and a fake laundromat at the entrance. Once inside, misdirection and illusion abound: from the vortex in the unisex restroom to the funky fireplace.

The first hour preceding the headliner consists of cocktails and table magic, consisting mostly of card tricks being performed by floor magicians. Prestidigitation also takes place at the Magic Bar before and after the main act. Food and drinks are available at reasonable prices, and there’s plenty to share.

It so happened that my guest and I sat next to Joey Cranford, the owner, at the beginning of the evening. He was a warm and welcoming host, who told us about how opening the club and cocktail bar had long been a dream of his. The venue has been around since 2018.

For those of you looking for a cutting-edge performance (like sawing a woman in half), this is not the show you want. But writing this article reminds of a story I once heard many years ago. It was a little boy’s fifth birthday. To celebrate this special occasion, his parents granted him his dearest wish: to watch a professional magician perform on stage. With every passing day, the child grew more and more excited about the prospect of seeing magic in person. But when the boy finally watched the show from his front row/center seat, he became inconsolable. Why? The magician used live animals in his tricks, and all the little boy would do was yell, “That’s not the same canary! What did you do to the first canary?” Mom and Dad kept nudging him and quietly saying to him that it was the same bird, but the little boy didn’t want to hear it or believe it. “No, it’s not!” he protested. Diffatte’s act is nothing like this. There is no use of live animals: he does not pull a rabbit out of a hat or a dove out of his sleeve. He has no need to inject tension into his routine by asking an audience member to step inside a box or lie down on a magic platform. Rather, he provides us with an evening’s worth of pleasant showmanship that keeps us wondering, “How did he do that?”

“Nick Diffatte: Offbeat” takes place at Chicago Magic Lounge, located at 5050 N Clark Street, in Chicago, through December 22, 2021.

Diffatte performs on Wednesday nights (except November 24, 2021). Table magic and the cocktail hour begin at 7:00 p.m. He comes on at 8:00 p.m.

Tickets are $40 for standard seats and $45 for the front row.

For tickets, please go to: https://www.chicagomagiclounge.com/calendar-view or contact the box office at 312-366-4500.

For more information on Nick Diffatte and his magic, visit his website: http://diffatte.com/.

To learn more about the Chicago Magic Lounge and their offerings throughout the week, please visit: https://www.chicagomagiclounge.com/. (Note that their Signature Show will take place in lieu of Diffatte’s performance on November 24th.)

The Chicago Magic Lounge requires proof of complete Covid-19 vaccination for all patrons. All guests are required to wear masks covering their mouth and nose at all times, unless eating or drinking. All performers are fully vaccinated.

The Magic Bar is open before the doors to the theater open. Once capacity in the bar is reached, patrons will be held in line outside the venue until the theater doors are opened. Please arrive by 6:30 p.m. if you’d like a spot in the bar. If you do not plan to visit the bar beforehand, please arrive at 7:00 p.m. to minimize time waiting in line for the main theater.

You must be 21 or older to enter; 16+ if accompanied by a parent or guardian.