“Magical Thinking” The return of David Parr!

***** There is nothing like a magical evening of entertainment and no better place than the Chicago Magic Lounge. For those of you unfamiliar with this space, it is an amazing theater where the audience can experience some of the best of the best in “close-up magic”. Just starting the evening is magical. When you first arrive at 5050 N. Clark Street, you will see what appears to be a laundromat. Once you enter and ring the bell, you will see that you are in for a magical evening.

As you continue through the washers and dryers into a cocktail lounge, you will see some up-close and special magic as you await the mainstage show- then you will move to the Magic Library, where another wall will open to reveal the main room where you will be seated, order your shareables and libations and let the fun begin. You will see magicians of all shapes and sizes as well as genders go from table to table treating each table to some Chicago-style up-close magic. Tonight, Jane and I brought freinds Barry and Fern, who adore magic, to see what they miss by living in Florida.

We had several up-close tricks performed at our table, and then we enjoyed our food ( the potato pancakes were yummy as were the sirloin sliders) and as the clocked neared 7:30, we readied ourselves for the Artist-In-Residence, David Parr ( who by the way, was the first ever AIR at this house of magic) and his show, “Magical Thinking”. The show is one hour and thirty minutes  filled with tricks and illusions that will make you speechless. Parr takes us back in history and how he began his love for magic. At age 7 he received a magic set ( which he still has) and that is where it all began. I know how that can be, as my grandson, Adam and his best friend David, also began to do magic at about that age. Adam went on to do other things, but David, who is now a sophomore in college, is still a magician and one that can probably  work at the Lounge and be beloved.

This David, did some amazing illusions and used the audience quite often. One of the reasons I adore CML is that all of the performers do get the audience involved, and that makes for quite an impression on both the person involved and the other audience members. We know that nothing is rigged. In fact, one of our good freinds ( and someone who is featured on this website, Paul Lisnek) was brought up onstage for one of the illusions and did a great job,

Parr’s show is magical, as well as spooky and for those who are not aware of Penn & Teller and their “I Fooled Penn and Teller show”, Parr did just that, and tonight he shared the illusion ( and fooled us as well). The show goes into things like witchcraft, ghosts, darkness and things like breaking a mirror, only to find that it is intact, but there is no way that it could be. For one hour and thirty minutes, you will find yourself mesmerized by the story-telling and the illusions that go with Parr’s gentle demeanor. He is funny and plays the audience well. I will tell you that should he call on you, do not hesitate to take the stage with him, you will have a memory that will last a lifetime.

You will see tricks that will astound you, amaze you and make you scratch your head. Try to imagine placing a rope around the performers neck and then pulling from two sides. You won’t believe your eyes.  Try to imagine an audience member imitating every move that Parr makes with a deck of cards and getting the same result. These are just two of the powerful illusions shared with the audience. Each one seems to outdo the previous one and the finale will leave you speechless!

David Parr will appear onstage every Wednesday night through September 25th. His show starts at 7:30, but you should be seated by 7 p.m. for some good old fashioned Chicago close-up magic. Tickets start at $42.50 main floor and front row at $47.50

To purchase tickets call 312-366-4500 or online at www.chicagomagiclounge.com

Other shows available:

Mondays “Music & Magic”

The Showcase” Tuesdays

The Signature Shows-Thursdays-Sundays at7 p.m. with a second show on Fridays and Saturdays at 10 p.m.

Family Show  Sundays at 3 p.m. ( children under 16 can attend this performance)

To see what others are saying, visit www.theatreinchicago.com, go to Review Round-Up and click at “”Magical Thinking”.

A Magical Night of Fun and Amazement Not to be Missed!

Review by: Paul Lisnek, Behind the Curtain, WGNRadio.com

****/4

It’s no wonder that magician David Parr fooled master magicians Penn and Teller so completely, that they did not even attempt to offer an explanation on their show for how David did his magic, they just got up and handed him the Fool Us trophy. That tells you that Penn and Teller had met their match! When you can fool the best, you ARE the best! And guess what: Parr does that same trick for us at the fabulous Chicago Magic Lounge, surrounded by audience members who are invited to watch closely to see how he does what he does. Be assured, his Fool Us trophy remains secure!

Parr keeps the audience in his hands the entire evening with his blend of the traditional, with the weird and a bit of the supernatural. Chicago is known for close-up magic and Parr invites audience members on stage to watch him do his….and not a one can figure out what he’s doing…the sign of a confident and sharp magician.

And at moments, he mocks the secrecy of it all. Selecting me from the audience to be part of the trick, I was asked to close my eyes on stage from time to time but relying on my senses of touch and feeling, I was astounded by what he was making happen. Except the audience saw it all…and I’m not sure who enjoyed it more, them for knowing how he did what he did, or me, for remaining in awe NOT knowing how he did what he did.

All in all, it’s a evening of great fun accompanied by the fabulous Chicago Magic Lounge food and drink menu. And don’t forget to arrive early to enjoy the magic always going on at the lobby bar and the table magic being performed at your table..just for you…before the mainstage.

Chicago Magic Lounge doesn’t miss a trick! And you’ll be happy they don’t!

Paul M. Lisnek, J.D., Ph.D.