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SYDNEY THEATRE REVIEWS
What a gift to kick off 2024. Grand Illusionist Rick Thomas, winner of several prestigious entertainment and industry awards, graced our shores at State Theatre on New Year’s Day. He shares early on in the show that he was just here for a holiday and “wasn’t really planning to do this” but somehow found the grace to squeeze in a show in his busy schedule. Thomas makes no pretence at faking charm, he just tells it like it is. “I hate birds, I have a phobia of them” he reveals, after his heart-stopping dove tricks that sees several materialising in practically thin air. He also encourages audience participation but doesn’t suffer fools gladly. “Don’t change the choreography!” he snaps to one hapless audience member who couldn’t quite manoeuvre what Thomas wanted. As Aussies, we’re sort of used to that kind of roasting.
If you’ve never seen a live magician at play, you will definitely love this show, conceptualised ornately as Mansion of Dreams. Everything in the classic magician’s repertoire is there: cutting a woman in two, levitating her in the air, guessing the right card in a random deck of cards, unlocking a pair of steel rings, teleporting objects from one box to another, and so on. Thomas is quick to clarify he is more than just a magician; he is a Grand Illusionist, connecting the tricks to a biographical narrative of how he found his calling. He admits freely that as a child he bullied his little sister into believing she was actually invisible, and how it caused a fair bit of trauma. He fondly remembers his mother watching his amateur magical tricks with patient enthusiasm. He appeals to all parents in the audience to “listen to their kids” so that they too can nurture their child’s imagination.
The dream theme landed very well with a diverse crowd of families and kids. Asking a six-year old if “he likes girls” in front of a crowd might be a little questionable these days, but the atmosphere was one of cheeky (slightly adult) humour which the audience was happy to pass. Thomas knows how to read the room, and knows his material inside out to deliver a flawless, highly polished, entertaining show. A mother and daughter were still gushing when walking all the way back to Town Hall station. “Did you like that?” asked the mother, to which the daughter beamed and smiled.
Rick Thomas’ Mansion of Dreams is a wonderful example of manifesting the impossible, and making magic a part of reality.
Illusionist Rick Thomas @ State Theatre
Illusionist Rick Thomas Review - whatshejustsaid.com.au
The State Theatre was packed on Wednesday night, eagerly anticipating the performance of the magician Rick Thomas. I, admittedly not the biggest fan of magic, was curious as to whether Thomas would live up to the billing as one of the greatest illusionists in the world today.
It’s clear to me now why such performances continue to fill theatres and why there is an enduring appeal to stage magic. I left pleasantly surprised by the enjoyment it brought not only myself but also the rest of the auditorium, who seemed to all leave with beaming smiles on their faces.
The show is titled The Mansion of Dreams, and it is a show in every sense of the word. Everything from the lighting, visual effects, costumes, and choreography exudes a spectacular and grand feel. It’s as if the entire production has been plucked directly from the Las Vegas strip, which is where Thomas first earned acclaim, thrilling audiences for an impressive 15 years.
Thomas is still every bit a master illusionist when he takes the stage today. His ability to work the crowd is exceptional, keeping both adults and kids in the palm of his hands through every act. The show offers a variety of magic’s greatest hits, including card tricks, disappearing acts, grand levitation illusions, and more. But it still has moments that will leave even the harshest audience members wondering how it’s possible to do what they’ve just seen. But the show is also much more than just a collection of tricks.
Thomas also emerges as a master storyteller when transitioning between the acts as advertised and anecdotes that will leave you chuckling from his impeccable comedic timing. The only thing that maybe slows the pacing down at times is a bit too much reliance on the use of the projector. But what truly sets this show apart is the exceptional level of audience participation, a rarity in today’s stage show landscape. The crowd plays a pivotal role in several illusions, which adds a welcome warmth to the show.
The show’s underlying message revolves around dreams and the importance of never giving up on your aspirations. Rick Thomas could’ve tapped out long ago, yet it’s clear he is a magician at heart who has a genuine love for the art and a desire to entertain his audience like it’s his very first show. In doing so, Thomas convinced me that the real magic lies not in figuring out how the illusions are done but in allowing yourself to suspend belief and just enjoy the performance for the spectacle that it is.
