Easter may be over, but there’s still time to get yourselves to Brisbane Powerhouse for spectacular school holiday fun with Circus of Illusion. As the title suggests, it’s a mix of incredible physical stunts and grand illusions anchored by the Australia’s most intense illusionist, Michael Boyd. I’m warning you now, no one can resist this guy’s piercing dark-eyed stares.
There’s dance numbers from the brightly-costumed Circus Sisters, who also act as assistants during Michael’s illusions. He has some lovely interactions with kids pulled from the audience; as well as grand-spankingly good shocks for your system, with levitation, impaling, disappearances and reappearances and escapes all served up piping hot.
Wham glam circus man Idris Stanton hosts this event with his trademark cheeky humour, showing off his rock ’n’ roll juggling along the way. There’s brilliant hula-hooping and beautiful lollipop lyra work, plus the most stupendous rola bola act you might ever see. If you like death-defying insanity way up high, you’ll love this.
I love magic. I’m even producing my own magic show in the upcoming Brisbane Comedy Festival. Frustratingly, my magicians refuse to spill their secrets, so I am still trying to work out how it’s done. But that is the mark of the great tricksters—never reveal a thing. You know they’ve done their job when the only word you can use to describe the audience is “agog”.
My favourite moment was seeing a young lad, about six years old, just glued to his seat as the lights came up at intermission. He was staring at the stage, his mouth hanging open. His sisters wriggled beside him, his Mum waved her hand in front of his face, but he didn’t move. That kid’s life was changed for the better that night, and it was a joy to see.
The good news is you don’t have to be a kid to get that agog feeling. Circus of Illusion is great family fun. They’re playing two shows a day at the Brisbane Powerhouse until Saturday 6 April. Abracadabra!
