PurrView #41 - Avant Garde at The Plaza

(itricks.com)

Currently showing at The Plaza's historic showroom is "Avant Garde." Described as a collection of "music, mirth, magic and mayhem," it was an entertaining mix of mildly mesmerizing tricks, illusions, comical shtick and oddities to tantalize the senses.  

Violinist Lindsey Stirling-- noted in the show's description as "hip-hop violinist"-- was not present to add the desired depth to the "music" element. It would have been a pleasure to catch her since I've definitely enjoyed touches of hip-hop violin in the past like Miri Ben-Ari. Upon checking Stirling's tunes out, I found that she sounds like more of an ambient-trip-hop violinist than a hip-hop violinist. Nonetheless, I am admittedly disappointed that the musical phenom wasn't on the docket that night.

(Violinist Lindsey Stirling. last.fm)

Ed Alonzo contributed to the element of "mirth" in the show as he performed silly balloon tricks and such that I couldn't help but giggle at. Known by children of the 90s as the magician/diner owner on "Saved by the Bell," he was also the onstage illusionist who made Britney Spears disappear and reappear for her 2009 "Circus" tour.

(nerdreactor.com)

For the element of "magic," Juliana Chen seemed to take the cake with her slight-of-hand methods that give the illusion of a never ending wellspring of playing cards. She is not only a world-champion juggler and magician; she is also the show's director (and a lovely lady, at that).

 

( julianachen.com )

And for my favorite part of any equation, "mayhem" was presented primarily via Kevin James (the magician, not the comic). James is a creative and inventive award-winning personality on the worldwide magician circuit. He's created tricks that other illusionists and magicians like David Copperfield even use.  The highlight of his bit was the trick known as "Operation" which left me dumbfounded and creeped out. It was wonderful!

 (Kevin James and his pseudo-Charlie Chaplin sidekick. VegasNews.com)

Also appearing in the show were Michael Finney as MC and Sonny Fontana, who added a cute touch with his hand-shadow impersonations. In addition to Lindsey Stirling, "Avant Garde"  performers who were unfortunately not present for the show that night included self-proclaimed "Coolest Magician on Earth," Rudy Coby; famous pantomime magician, Jerome Murat; and world-renowned mentalist and stunt-magician extraordinaire, Aaron Crow. The dark and mischievous show was a delightful variety of comedy and magic, and a pretty good outing for a Wednesday night.

~Meow~

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