Photo by Sarah Elizabeth Larson
I’ve seen many magicians at Chicago Magic Lounge, and they have all been very good. (The venue attracts the best.) But David Parr might well be my favorite yet, and his current show, Magical Thinking, is about as much fun as you can have watching magic.
Every magician has his schtick, and much of Parr’s secret is found in his ebullient personality and interactions with the audience. From the start, he laughs, jokes, and tells stories about his journey into magic and “magical thinking” as he entertains with illusions that confound the eyes and minds of the audience. He seems like someone you’d want to spend an evening with anywhere, not just while he is performing on a stage; he’s just that enjoyable to spend time with.
He also seems to be having as much fun performing as his audiences are having watching. Some magicians can seem distant from the audience; their personas are based on the notion that they are privy to the secrets of the universe in ways we can’t connect for ourselves. When we see them perform, the tricks are everything; the magician is someone who can show them to us. Of course, that is the truth, but if we don’t enjoy the time we spend with them, what is the point? Parr connects to this audience in a very different way: completely, with every bit of himself.
Some people watch magic to “catch” the magician in the act of fooling them. They want to discover the nature of the trick. I suppose you could do that with Parr, but it is much more fun to join him on this journey and let it all wash over you. I’ll be honest: even with tricks I’ve seen before, I’ve never seen them done so smoothly and, often, so surprisingly. Parr’s illusions surprise with the notion that you’ve just seen something impossible. You know that isn’t the case; you’re a willing participant in your own deception, but that’s the fun.
At one point in the evening, I was able to join him onstage as part of one trick. As with all magic, it was a set piece, carefully designed and honed to elicit laughter and surprise. This one involved many members of the audience; the gimmick was that most of the others were “press,” pointing imaginary cameras at us to capture the brilliant illusion and make sure there was no cheating going on. I was helping with the trick, but I have no clue how it was done. I didn’t need to: I just allowed David Parr to walk me into his world, making me laugh and leave wondering how the heck he managed to do that. That’s what a good magician can do.
David Parr’s Magical Thinking is presented on Wednesdays at 7:00 at Chicago Magic Lounge, 5050 N. Clark, Chicago, through Sept 25.