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Is Magic On the Way Out in Vegas?

May 14, 2010 at 2:28 PM | by juliab | 0 Comments

These people agree that Copperfield’s still got it

We at VegasChatter have absolutely no problem in declaring that we have a thing for magic shows. We love to be astounded, we love to get our little brains churning over how they did it, and we love cursing loudly when David Copperfield magicks a car out of thin air.

But we’re getting worried, because at the moment it seems like the magic shows, they are dying. Lance Burton is going. Siegfried and Roy are officially never coming back. Luke Jermay and Dirk Arthur are both looking for work but, from their silence, not finding much. Steve Wyrick was spotted limping away from Vegas this morning. Even his royal sexiness Copperfield is stuffed away in a grotty theater, when by all sense of what is right in the world, he should be commanding the Strip with his hotness awesome tricks.

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End of the 'Mental Goes Free' Saga (Upshot: It's Not Free)

Where: 3555 Las Vegas Blvd South [map], 89109
April 6, 2010 at 12:56 PM | by juliab | 0 Comments

Well we seem to have a definitive answer (for now, at least) on the ‘are there still free tickets to Luke Jermay’s show at O’Sheas’ question. And the answer is no. No there aren’t.

After we asked WTF was going on on Friday, O’Sheas twittered us to say that regular tickets are $44.95, but you can get them from the box office for $20 (including two free drinks). How to get the deal? Either with a coupon (good luck finding one) or, they say, “just mention 'free drinks deal'”.

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Lance Burton to Disappear from Monte Carlo on September 4

April 5, 2010 at 9:04 PM | by juliana | 1 Comment

There was speculation last year at this time that magician Lance Burton was out at Monte Carlo but he magically pulled a six-year contract out of his hat.

But today it was announced that Burton will be out as of September 4. And it appears to be have been a not-so-nice parting. We wonder if he will even make it until September? Are you lining up to buy your last Lance tickets or not? Let us know in comments below.

Here's what else is on in Vegas:
· The Frank Sinatra musical will not be coming to Las Vegas [NY Post]
· Could there be a Wynn Mexico be our future? [HotelChatter]
· Why are there bomb-sniffing drugs at the Luxor? [@VegasBatman]
· If it smells good in town today, it's because The Pizza Convention is on! [SF Chronicle]
· Holly Madison and Benji Madden. Discuss. [LV Sun]

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Who Will Take Steve Wyrick's Place?

Where: 3663 Las Vegas Blvd South [map], 89109
March 19, 2010 at 3:25 PM | by juliab | 0 Comments

Anyone know what’s going on with The Space Formerly Known As The Steve Wyrick Theater?

The lights are off, there’s no one home, but the hoardings are still up and the shop still has Wyrick t-shirts racked up forlornly.

We’re taking it as read that Wyrick and his orange tan are gone for good, but we’re wondering who, if anyone, is going to move in there. And, more importantly, will it be a magician? Hope so.

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Venus Williams Makes A Rookie Vegas Mistake: Giving Criss Angel A Chance

Where: 3900 Las Vegas Blvd South [map], 89119
March 12, 2010 at 4:09 PM | by juliab | 0 Comments

Criss Angel has a fan. For real. And not only is she female, but she aint bad looking, and she's pretty important, too. For real.

Venus Williams was in town this week, and, like many other tourists, decided to see a show. Would it be a magic show or a Cirque show? Or maybe a blend of both? Thus it was that she ended up spending Wednesday night watching Believe.

Not only that, but at the end of the show, she was dragged invited backstage to have her picture taken with the looker that is Criss Angel. The mouth may be smiling, folks, but the eyes are screaming “help me”.

Next time, Venus, call us. We'll be happy to suggest alternative entertainment. Like spending the evening as a nightclub toilet attendant could be a start.

Of course, we might take this all back if the soon-to-be-implemented changes make Believe any more bearable. But we're almost certain we won't.

[Photo: Las Vegas Now/Tom Rutan]

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David Copperfield's Still Got It (Despite MGM Grand's Best Efforts)

Where: 3799 Las Vegas Boulevard South [map], 89109
February 19, 2010 at 8:37 PM | by juliab | 0 Comments

Like: The Copperfield. Dislike: The Copperfield's environs.

We warned you we were going to do this. After David Copperfield hypnotized us with his silky voice and creepy invitations, we wanted to go see his show. This week, we finally got round to it and hit up the Hollywood Theater at MGM Grand.

We wanted to see the magic, of course, but what we really wanted to know is whether Copperfield’s still got it. Because, although watching him walking through the Great Wall of China is a heowge memory from our childhood, that was several years and several more grey hairs in the past.

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The Lights Are On, But Steve Wyrick's Not Home

January 29, 2010 at 11:59 AM | by juliab | 0 Comments

Sigh. Looks like there’s one less weird thing on the Strip. According to LV Weekly, although the lights are still on, there’s nobody home at the Steve Wyrick Theater in Miracle Mile. Looks like it’s curtains for Wyrick's own show Real Magic.

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David Copperfield Hypnotized Us Into Wanting To Go To His Show

January 15, 2010 at 1:13 PM | by juliab | 0 Comments

You may need to turn the sound up to hear the full extent of the creepiness. Sorry!

So there we were, cruisin’ quietly down the Strip last night when we got caught right in the middle of a magician sandwich. On our right hand side was a truck pulling this David Copperfield ad. On our left, no less than two trucks, one behind the other, each carrying an ad for Lance Burton.

Being inexplicably drawn in by those liquid brown eyes and, um, sparkling white t-shirt, their fight for our gaze was won by Copperfield. But then, a horrid thing happened. Copperfield started talking to us, asking us to come to his “brand new show” at the MGM Grand. Over and over and over again, until we felt a little bit hypnotized. Poor Lance Burton was completely forgotten. Both of him.

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Is Steve Wyrick's Disappearing Act for Real?

December 18, 2009 at 4:50 PM | by juliab | 0 Comments

You’d think magicians’ assistants were more natural teases than the headliners themselves, but illusionist Steve Wyrick is doing a proper line in keeping our interest at the moment. Last week, he seemed to be doing a disappearing act for real when he closed his theatre (the modestly named Steve Wyrick Theater at Miracle Mile) out of the blue and stopped returning calls. Then it got juicy as some of the other entertainers at the theatre sued him for doing a runner without paying them and he still didn't pick up the phone.

But now it appears to be more of a ‘now you see him, now you don’t’ game than a full blown disappearing stunt. Wyrick has posted a statement on his website saying that the closure is merely “temporary” and that it will “reopen and resume full operation by the end of the month.”

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Amazing Johnathan Wins Award Then Spoils It By Defending Criss Angel

December 2, 2009 at 4:52 PM | by juliab | 1 Comment

Vegas people are on an award-winning roll at the moment. If it’s not Donny Osmond winning Dancing with the Stars, it’s The Amazing Johnathan snaffling the prize for best comedy magic at the 2009 World Magic Awards last Wednesday.

Well done AJ! Unfortunately, he’s spoiled it all by writing on his website that Criss Angel’s Believe is “awesome”, “beautiful”, that “Criss is great in it” and that “if you don’t think it’s one of the greatest magic shows ever produced you are nuts.” Hmm.

In all of our interests, we’re not going to help you with booking Believe, but if you want to see The Amazing Johnathan, he’s on at the Harmon Theatre in the Miracle Mile, Tuesday to Saturday at 9pm, and tickets start at $59.95 plus tax.

In other magic news, Lance Burton will be off for a holiday December 13-25, reopening on Boxing Day. And Anthony Cools gets our own “comedy magic” award with his tweet the other day: “Fun show tonight, Glenda enjoyed her orgasm.” Incorrigible.

[Photo: Amazing Johnathan]

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Neil Patrick Harris Meets Penn and Teller and It's Legen...Wait for It...Dary

Where: 3700 W. Flamingo Road [map], 89109
November 25, 2009 at 12:36 PM | by juliana | 0 Comments

Doogie aka Barney aka Neil Patrick Harris from "How I Met Your Mother" was at the Penn & Teller show on Monday night at Rio Las Vegas. While he was in the crowd for the show, he also got special backstage access to goof around with Penn & Teller.

But this wasn't just a glorified photo op for P&T and NPH, who was in town filming an appearance on "Live With Regis and Kelly". NPH is actually a fellow magician. He's on the Board of Directors at Hollywood's Magic Castle where he once filmed an episode of Top Chef Master's. (The boys even have Top Chef in common!) He also hosted the World Magic Awards last year and has won a magician's award himself.

Penn & Teller perform every night except Friday at The Rio starting at 9pm. Tickets start at $75 and VIP seats start at $85 and come with a 30-page color booklet. Go here to book or call the box office at 888 746 7784.

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This Man Will Actually Read Your Mind (We Think.)

Where: 3555 Las Vegas Blvd S [map], 89109
November 2, 2009 at 5:55 PM | by juliab | 0 Comments

So you’re in Vegas. You want to see some magic. But you don’t want to get landed with a cheesefest like Xtreme Magic and you’d rather tweeze your own fingernails out than spend money on Criss Angel. What to do?

May we suggest you try a slightly different kind of magic, courtesy of Mr Luke Jermay over at O’Sheas? Mental, his show, has no rabbits out of hats or prancing tigers or show-stealing acrobats. It just has an hour of so-good-I’m-actually-quite-spooked mindreading. Yup, good old-fashioned mindreading.

Jermay’s totally different from what you’d expect from a Vegas performer (from London, not brash, a kind of humble stage presence) but don’t let that put you off. Likewise, the special effects are reduced to a couple of swirly lights and confetti that he sprinkles when he’s taking a while to read minds. Don’t worry though – it just makes the magic stuff even more insane.

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