Review: Jamie Allan gives fun performance in 'iMagician: Magic Beyond Belief'

Penn & Teller. David Copperfield. David Blaine. Jamie Allan. The first three have gained fame in the U.S.; the fourth, a self-dubbed “technology magician” from the U.K. who toured there for three years, is hoping his U.S. production, which runs through Sunday at Chicago’s Harris Theater, will bring him similar name recognition.

Whether that hope is realized or not, Allan’s “iMagician: Magic Beyond Belief” is a holiday week treat for the family that will keep adults and kids enthralled.

Allan’s dreamed of bringing a full production across “the pond,” and Chicago is the fortunate beneficiary of that dream’s fulfillment. Incorporating music that ranges from “Cry Me a River” to Sting’s “Shape of My Heart,” this show, which is a little less than 90 minutes, gives audience members a good idea of Allan’s humorous personality, his respect for the founding fathers of modern magic, his early years of magic career exploration, his influences and mentors (the late Ricky Jay was his “inspiration,” for example) and, of course, Allan’s professional skills.

It’s difficult to talk about the tricks and illusions in this enjoyable show without spoiling them, but a recent audience got to see Allan:

• Use his iPhone 8+ to do high-tech card tricks

• “Grab” and “throw” laser beams

• Produce 3D objects seemingly from their two-dimensional iPad images

• Saw a woman in half while she was inside a clear glass case (and reassemble her)

• Complete a dangerous escape trick

• Involve audience members from their seats and onstage, especially for close-up magic visible to the entire audience through a live-feed camera

At one point in the performance, Allan mentioned that he and his assistants were a bit short-handed because one of his onstage helpers was ill.

Perhaps that’s why the audience didn’t get to see one of his U.K.-originated illusions that initially was publicized as a “jaw-dropping” part of the Chicago show: a laser levitation. Whether it’ll be included in remaining shows this week remains to be seen (feel free to make your own “up in the air” comment on that).

Was I entertained? Definitely. Allan’s lighting effects, use of technology (not camera tricks), magician history details (e.g., who “wrote the book” on coin magic), synchronized music (the lyrics of “Shape of My Heart” coinciding with the sudden appearance of specific cards) and more kept my attention.

Did I figure out how he did any of the illusions and tricks? Definitely not. Even the “simplest” of tricks involving two ropes and Harry Houdini’s “spirit box” mystified me.

They say that a magician never tells his secrets, but based on the crowd-pleasing, fun performance I saw, it’s no secret that I think you should head to the Loop before this “iMagician” disappears.

• Paul Lockwood is a past president of TownSquare Players and an occasional community theater actor, appearing in more than 30 plays, musicals and revues since he and his wife moved to Woodstock in 2001. Recent shows include “42nd Street,” “Once Upon a Mattress,” “On Golden Pond, “9 to 5: The Musical,” “A Christmas Carol” (2014, 2016) and “Into the Woods.”