Quite the Trick: With 'Pure Lies,' Trent James Truly Engages, Nicely Enchants at the Chicago Magic Lounge -- Review

Magic Show Review

Pure Lies with Trent James
Chicago Magic Lounge
Thru March 25
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Any quick perusal of this blog will accurately convey that I predominantly see and review theater (musicals & plays) and rock concerts.

But a far deeper dive would reveal that—even just over the past ten years—I’ve attended and often written about shows across many idioms.

Classical, jazz, blues, bluegrass, country, folk, ragtime, funk and concerts in other musical genres. Ballet, tap, modern dance, the Rockettes and Riverdance. Stand-up, sketch and improv comedy. Cirque du Soleil shows, similar productions and more traditional circuses. Numerous operas. Poetry readings. Kabuki theater. Professional wrestling.

And magic.

But rather little magic. Although I enjoy a good magic show, I think the only one I saw over the past decade was a touring production called The Illusionists.

I did also see, in 2016, a House Theatre play called Death and Harry Houdini, featuring the talented magician Dennis Watkins doing some tricks connected to the most famed magician ever.

And sure, back in the day, I saw some David Copperfield specials on TV. I once saw Penn & Teller in Las Vegas. I vaguely recall seeing a magic show by Kirby Van Burch on my only visit to Branson, MO. And I think I saw the legendary Doug Henning once at the old Mill Run Theater in Niles, IL when I was a kid.

But I really should see more magic.

…as evidenced by how much I enjoyed my first visit to the Chicago Magic Lounge and a show called Pure Lies by current artist-in-residence Trent James.

Per the above, I don’t have much point of reference. And while he demonstrated easygoing charm and engaging showmanship along with what I saw as strong magic, I imagine even the 22-year-old James would agree he probably needs a bit more seasoning and polish before he gets a Vegas theater named for him (à la Lance Burton, Criss Angel and other “name” magicians past & present).

James’ nearly hourlong set was nicely low-key—especially for a Wednesday night, though the well-appointed venue was pretty full—but never quite felt monumental.

But, as you can see above, that’s about all that’s keeping me from bestowing a full @@@@@ on my Seth Saith scale.

Now, before I loosely describe some of James' tricks and gags--I certainly won't give much away--let me back up a bit.

Although I am a fairly avid follower of the Chicagoland arts scene, consider magic a creative idiom I enjoy (even if I don't see it much) and have driven along the 5000 block of Clark of block a number of times--the Raven Theater is a few blocks north, the Black Ensemble Theater a few blocks south--I didn't know of the Chicago Magic Lounge's existence until late December 2019. (It seems to have opened nearly two full years ago.)

Granted, the facade of the building at 5050 N. Clark gives nothing away, unless you're specifically looking for the magic venue and notice a few vintage posters in the doorway.

Even once you step inside, what you see is a laundromat (I wouldn't give this away if ChicagoMagicLounge.com didn't).

Luckily, some other patrons enabled a friend and I to quickly find the right point of entry, and what we ultimately encountered was quite impressive.

It was via a Chicago Tribune mention about things to do on New Year's Eve that I became aware of the venue, and a perusal of their website indicated they do shows every night, including a "Signature Show" Thursday through Friday.

Intrigued, I reached out to see if I might be able to attend and review a performance, and learned of Press Night availability for Pure Lies with Trent James, the current quarterly artist-in-residence show.

After entering via a washing machine, my friend Ken and I were corralled into an attractive but rather close-knit cocktail area, where a guy named Al James was doing magic at the bar. (In his act, Trent James mentioned his dad also being a magician, but in asking him after the show I learned that Al James is not his father. Just a magical coincidence, I guess.)

Via a small magic library with some cool old posters and a framed Conjurer's magazine accompanied by a (presumably signed) photo of Harry Houdini, we then went into the main showroom.

This is a large, multi-level cabaret-type space that would well-accommodate a stand-up comedian, small jazz combo, vocalist/pianist duo, etc. (On Mondays at the Chicago Magic Lounge, there is a live jazz accompanying magic.)

We ordered some food & drinks, and while the menu isn't vast, what we had--Beef & Cheddar Sliders, Prosciutto Wrapped Dates, Peanut Butter Bonbons--was all quite tasty.

And before Trent James took the stage at 8:15pm, we and many other patrons were able to enjoy the talents of table magicians making their way around the showroom.

A friendly woman did card tricks; a denonair man did nifty tricks with two cushioned balls. Apologies for not being able to cite their names, though they did introduce themselves.

So my first impressions of the Chicago Magic Lounge were quite strong, even beyond James' show, the main focus of this review.

I perceive it as pretty nifty place to take a date, if only I could make one appear.

And my understanding is that the "Signature Show," which rotates performers night-to-night, makes for an even fuller night of magic than the Wednesday artist-in-residence shows. (There is also a Family Show on Sunday afternoons.)

Which brings me back to Pure Lies with Trent James.

Throughout his act, James had a hip, cheery, self-effacing manner, and his magic skills--he said he's been at it since the age of 5--are accompanied by fine comedic and acting prowess.

He started with some magic using various props--a handkerchief, egg, lemon, even a flute--but he was even stronger with pieces involving audience members brought onstage.

Whether he was reading minds--with the aid of a silent dummy named William--or picking pockets, he consistently had me fooled.

And entertained.

Without knowing how else to judge a magic show, it seems both are key criteria in saying this is a good one.

I'd be happy to see other shows and magicians at the spiffy venue, and/or elsewhere, and would be curious to note how James' career develops as his impressive poise continues to.

But even, or perhaps especially, to an arts lover who rather rarely takes in magic but was intrigued & tickled to do so, Trent James, his Pure Lies solo show and the Chicago Magic Lounge all appear to be the real deal. 

Abracadabra: For the Rare Magic Show, 'The Illusionists' Do the Trick -- Chicago Theater / Magic Review

Theater / Magic Review

The Illusionists - Witness the Impossible

featuring Andrew Basso, Aaron Crow, Jeff Hobson, Yu Ho-Jin, Kevin James, Dan Sperry, Adam Trent

Cadillac Palace, Chicago

Thru March 22

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Of all the performing arts, I don't think there are any I've attended less than magic. (Except perhaps mime if Blue Man Group doesn't count.)

I remember seeing Doug Henning at the old Mill Run Theater as a kid in the '70s, and I once saw Penn & Teller in Las Vegas.

That's it.

No other Vegas headliner magicians. No David Copperfield. Never a trip to the Magic Castle in Los Angeles.

And the thing is, I don't dislike magic; in fact, I enjoy it.

Any halfway decent magician can adequately fool me, even dazzle me. 

But I rarely even see any magic on TV, and it's not like I get invited to kids' birthday parties, where local magicians might occasionally appear.

So although I wouldn't want magic shows--or much else beyond the mainstay musicals--to proliferate as part of my Broadway in Chicago subscription, I have no urge to dis The Illusionists appearing on BIC's spring slate. 

It was nice to see the Cadillac Palace filled for the first night of the Chicago run, and while the second-to-last row in the upper balcony of a huge downtown theater probably isn't the optimal perch for appreciate the nimble artistry of top-notch magicians--even with a video screen onstage--the 2-1/2 hour Witness the Impossible production was sufficiently worth my while. 

I wasn't familiar, even merely by name, with any of the 7 magicians that are part of this touring show--following a brief Broadway run--but one has to presume all are very well-regarded to be selected for such a showcase, with bookings well into next year. 

Each magician had a distinct persona--The Escapologist (Adam Basso), The Warrior (Aaron Crow), The Trickster (Jeff Hobson), The Manipulator (Yu Ho-Jin), The Inventor (Kevin James), The Anti-Conjuror (Dan Sperry), The Futurist (Adam Trent)--and frequent audience participation bits with good-natured folks added to the fun.

The magic, to my easily-deceived eyes, was first-rate, including a Houdiniesque water torture escape by Basso, a strange trick involving a Life-Saver and dental floss by Sperry, a William Tell-inspired apple + arrow illusion by Crow, and a particularly head-scratching man split in two bit by James. 

Though there were few audible gasps from the audience, even the multiple card tricks were impressive. The best of these were by Yu Ho-Jin, who was named Magician of the Year in 2014 and won the preeminent magic competition at age 19. 

He brought a unique elegance and gracefulness to his two tricks, and I would've liked to see him do more. Of all the magicians, he's the one I would be most interested to see do his own show. 

Both Trent and Hobson were engaging in quasi-Emcee roles, while also doing tricks of their own. A 20-minute trick by Sperry after the intermission was way too long and not correspondingly awe-inspiring enough, but all seven magicians were clearly well-heeled as entertainers, not merely tricksters. 

That said, this magic show was much better for the magic than the show. Despite a stellar live band onstage--called Z--it seemed any consistent excitement was a rather muted and pacing a bit less than ideal. 

If you're one who loves magic--or have kids who do, as several children were in the house and a few cutely
chosen to participate in tricks--The Illusionists - Witness the Impossible provides a rather rare chance to see Vegas-type magical talents in a large Loop venue. (Check HotTix and Goldstar for discounts before springing for full price ducats.)

But whereas a rare recent trip to the ballet, and somewhat infrequent symphony and opera performances, acutely interested me in increasing my exposure to those art forms, as much as I was adequately entertained--and frequently impressed--by The Illusionists, I really can't say it left me longing to anytime soon see what other magicians may have up their sleeve.