Theatre of the Night Presents Smoke & Mirrors in Salem, MA

A Review of the Smoke & Mirrors October Magic Show in Salem, MA

Lord BlackSword

Under a waxing moon, Buoyed aloft by those Samhain energies, that time of the year when the veil between the World of the Living and the World of the Dead is stretched thinnest, Lord and Lady BlackSword did journey to Salem, MA to witness a sorceress display of Might and Skill, most impressive!

At the Museum Place Mall, Smoke & Mirrors

http://www.theatreofthenight.com/

Salem’s longest running magic show is offered in continuous performances everyday throughout the month of October.

Smoke & Mirrors, as we observed on the evening of October 30, 2009 EV, was the Bardic Magic of Daniel GreenWolf and the Gothic Magic of Vlad.

The Bardic Magic of Daniel GreenWolf is where magic, music, mirth & myth come together to create a unique theatrical experience. Daniel Greenwolf has performed for many groups and companies, including close to a dozen renaissance Fairs. His awards include Tannen’s Grand Prize in Senior Stage Competition.

http://www.greenwolfmagic.com/

The Gothic Magic of Vlad is a charmingly dark and slightly twisted style which stems from the heart of the classic horror genre. Don Deich, has performed on TV, Stage and Movie, and is recipient of several SAM awards.

http://www.gothicmagic.com/index.html

Vlad demonstrated a haunted key and then caused to vanish and reappear the same common playing card which his assistant from the audience tortured and mutilated in a particularly loathsome matter which would have made Vlad’s ancestor, Countess Elizabeth Bathory, proud.

Daniel Greenwolf caused a wicker man to come to life and rise from his hand, twisted fine silverware in a most unnatural fashion, and then escaped from a noose which would have been the end of a lesser Mage, despite the best efforts of two study lads from the audience to bring about just that end.

However, a reviewer would be remiss if he just studied the performers and not the audience. As we know, performing bizarre magic, by whatever name we call it, presents unique challenges, as well as unique opportunities. If the performance is too light or campy, the performers can be received by the audience as silly or poor comedians. If the performance is too heavy, the performers can be rejected by the audience, especially an audience with young children and those who feel they must “protect” these children. It’s a delicate thing, to move the audience, as a bizarre magickian must, but to not offend the audience or trivialize the material.

From the introduction through the final applause (Delivered standing, of course!) Vlad and Daniel Greenwolf remained true to our genre, but also captured the audience, including young children and their protective parents. One thing I especially noted was that these masters of our craft did not hesitate to engage the audience in discussion, but never ceded control to the audience, as less skilled performers may have.

Please attend Smoke & Mirrors! I know that Lady BlackSword and I will again next year.

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For information on the individual Performers in Smoke & Mirrors
CLICK HERE

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