“Magic is People: Justin Purcell”

**** I am intrigued by magic! How can I miss seeing how they perform the tricks? Is the hand truly quicker than the eye? Or, is there truly magic?

Chicago is a magical city. In fact, close-up magic is said to have its origins right here on Irving Park Road at a bar/restaurant called Schulien’s. There were several spots that were known for this special form of magic , where you were as close as one can get, and still were fooled. Right now, at Chicago Magic Lounge, an amazing and quite magical Cabaret for Magic, located in Andersonville, there is a magician that will show you some of the creations of that era in his one man show entitled, “Magic Is People”. That artist is Justin Purcell who currently is what they term their “Artist In Residence”, a program that makes the main stage his every Wednesday night thru March 18th.

For those unfamiliar with Chicago Magic Lounge, it is located at 5050 N. Clark Street in what appears to be a laundromat. Don’t get confused as you enter ( and do not bring your laundry) but when you push the service bell, the washers and dryers will part and allow you to enter a buzzing lounge and the Harry Blackstone Cabaret. If you arrive around 6:30 for a 7:30 seating, you can enjoy a beverage in the bar and watch some magic at the bar, which will prime you for what is in store.

When you leave the cocktail lounge, you will walk over to a bookcase that will open for you to enter the actual venue, and be escorted to your table or booth. There is a stage and a menu of beverages ( of all types) and some great snack and dining items. During what I call the cocktail period, which is also a warm-up period allowing the audience to get in the mood, many magicians will work the room, visiting table after table and doing close up magic- one on one!

We had a few stop by and one in particular “blew our minds”! Her name is Abby Segal, who moved here from Boston and has fallen in love with the magic of Chicago ( and I am certain our audiences). Jane and I marveled at her talent. and while tonight she is a table visitor, it turns out that on Tuesday nights, she does a staged show. I am sure we will be back for her.

Meanwhile, when Purcell took the stage, I remembered seeing “An Honest Living” back in 2023 when he was the “Artist In Residence” then. As good as he was then, I truly think that his comic talents have risen to a higher level. I was glad that he did not pull me onstage to assist as I would have been laughing so hard, most of the audience would not have been able to hear him speak.

While I cannot tell you all of what his show does, I can tell you that he will amaze you with the ease of making simple things appear, disappear, and then reappear! He does this right next to you and as hard as I watched, I could not come close to figuring out how coins changed from silver to copper, or cards moved from one place to another, or how a page of a book came out of the book and appeared in an envelope, in an envelope , in another envelope ( all sealed). IMPOSSIBLE!!

Guess what? There is no impossible when you are in the prescience of  Justin Purcell. He doesn’t just show us tricks, he makes us part of them, using audience members for several of them, and being so close to the others that they are part of it even if they do not volunteer. Justin is funny in a sort of Hoosier style, but when it comes to up close and personal , his work is purely magical. He is onstage for a little over 70 minutes and each of those is one to savor. When you see his final bit, where he tosses cards against a wall and one sticks to the wall ( with a tack), I for one rose to my feet applauding like a madman- this guy is worth the trip, so clear up a Wednesday and call312-366-4500 or visit www.chicagomagiclounge.com

They have shows every day

Mondays  7 p.m. The Close-Up Show

Tuesdays: The Showcase   7 p.m.

Shows are 7 p.m. with additional show son Fridays and Saturdays at 10 p.m. and on Sundays, starting May 11th an early show  at 4 p.m.. This is a 21 + venue. 16 and up allowed to evening shows with a ticketed adult.

Once you visit this magical space, I am pretty sure you will be back, and with friends who will thanks you for sharing!

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