Mark Toland- “Mind Reader”

Highly Recommended **** On my way to The Greenhouse Theater Center this evening, I thought about some of the great magic shows that we have recently seen in Chicago. I knew that “Mind Reader” was unique and different. It is not magic ( BUT, it is “magical”). Mark Toland is a pretty average looking dude. He could easily be the manager of a Gap store or even a Jewel Tea grocery store. Tall, bearded and wearing glasses, one would never imagine that this man can read the minds of a great number of people sitting in one audience watching  for 80 minutes! He is amazing, to say the least!

This is not a one man show , as billed, but rather, a leader with a cast of 80 ( I think the studio theater holds that many and they were at near capacity tonight), performing every Wednesday night. As he puts it, “get ready for an unforgettable evening”. “The audience is the cast, their thoughts are his props and their minds will be blown!” This is factual! Due to the nature of this amazing performance art ( I think this is the best term to use), and his desire to keep the show mysterious for the next audiences, I will not give out any of the actual things that took place, but will tell you that he has a strange way of reaching out to audience members, and getting them into the show. Relax, and enjoy the ride!

The stage is almost bare. An easel with a huge pad of paper on one side, a sort of lectern with a flat top center stage and to the stage left ( audience right) a black basket where he places the used materials/props! He brings out his “Little Mark” doll, which he tosses out to the audience to get his “volunteers” and asks them to toss again, until he has the number he needs for the exercise he is sharing with us. Whether it is defining what each “volunteer” does for a living, their first love, where they would like to travel, he will share your thoughts with everyone in the house. He even has things in his pocket that he had placed there in the morning that are read aloud and describe events that we just bore witness to and I assure you, there were no “plants” in the audience.

He calls his show a weekly “mentalism show” doing it mid-week, which might be a perfect break for many people in high pressure, stressful positions. Watching him do his “thing” is powerful and certainly takes one’s mind off any stress that they may have endured during the day, or week, or perhaps, the month! He is a touring mind-reader with a blog showing the behind the brain of the man. www.MarkToland.com

Currently the schedule for “Mind Reader”- Mark Toland is thru October, but I have a feeling, based on the audience approval, that this could become a regular feature of the Greenhouse on a mid-week basis.

There will be NO shows 8/15, 8/22, 9/26 and 10/17.

The seating is open and the cost is $25. The tickets can be ordered by calling 773-404-7336 or online at www.greenhousetheater.org. show time is 8 p.m. and ends at 9:20 p.m. ( no intermission). Even the time the show ends is determined by the minds of the audience. Wait until you see some of the marvelous things he does. It is definitely unlike any other show you have seen before ( or might see in the future). I believe him to be one of a kind! Enjoy the evening. I know I had a great time and found myself entranced by his masterful ability to evidently feel our thoughts.

The Greenhouse Theater is located at  2257 N. Lincoln Avenue.

To see what others are saying, visit www.theatreinchicago.com, go to Review Round-Up and click at “Mind Reader” Mark Toland