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Hans Klok - The Houdini Experience
29th February 2012
Reviewed by Chris Cox
Earlier
this month I got to sit down with master illusionist, his words not mine, Hans
Klok for a little chat about his new show The Houdini Experience. I am an
award winning (and highly modest) mind-reader who can't read minds, whose always
loved magic, but illusions, just haven't excited me. Has Hans managed to change
that with his first London show? You know what? I think he has.
112 years ago the London stage played host to Harry Houdini, the most famous
magician of all time, and in this show Hans pays homage to this hero of magic
with the most spectacular illusion show you could ever want to see. London
hasn't really had a big magic show grace it's stages for some time, and with the
art of fooling people at an all time high, now is the time to capitalise on it.
I myself have my own award winning, multi 5 star mind-reading type show Fatal
Distraction on at the E4 Udderbelly on the 29th May and 19th June, but I
wouldn't be so crass as to mention that in anything that I write which has any
reference to magic in it. Nor would I dream to mention that tickets are on sale
now.
Anyway with that plug expertly shoe-horned in, it's back to the matter at hand,
or should I say the matter at Hans. The Houdini Experience takes us on a
travel through time and tableaux's visiting pirates, the 1700s, vaudeville
London and Hans' bed. We're treated to an eclectic mix of incredible illusions
all done in such a slick style and with so much pace and speed that you find
yourself in an almost constant gasp.
This two-hour production zips along with a circus cabaret collection of
international acts who could well have stolen the show and it's a testament to
Hans and his team that they still manage to top these world class acts. Leosvel
& Diosmani perform a homo-erotic show of strength sliding up and down a pole,
the MG Team's deaf defying roller-skating display leaves your hear in your mouth
but it's Duo You And Me's hand balance act and Zhang Fan slack rope stunt that
feel new, fresh and above all an incredible example of what the human body can
do.
These phenomenal feats of the human body remind us of what is potentially
possible, but then Hans Klok throws your world into a spin as he dazzles and
delights with some of magic's greatest hits. His presentation of Blackstone's
floating light bulb is probably as close to real magic as you'll ever see, the
constant vanishes and re-appearances from his Divas of Magic and tightly drilled
dance crew are often repeated yet never really get old. The banter is somewhat
lacking, but the charming foreigner manages to endear with a selection of cheesy
gags and dodgy script. It's lucky we're here for the trick more than the
scripts.
This is a big budget magic spectacle, with high production values that feels
like it's straight out of the 80s and to be honest, that is exactly what you
want from this sort of show. You want a man pouting from a man whose a cross
between Boris Becker and Zoolander pulling a Blue Steel. You want sexy dancers,
you want cheesy music, and you don't want anything new. You want a slick show
that will mesmorise and fascinate the whole family and that is exactly what
The Houdini Experience is.
This isn't a show about Houdini's life, this is a show about Hans Klok
celebrating magic, you so often find yourself with laughter as your only
response due to something impossible suddenly occurring in front of your eyes.
It is a show of no ways and OMGs. It is quite simply a hell of a lot of fun and
is big stage magic exactly as its meant to be. A real treat.
Hans Klok - The Houdini Experience runs at Sadler's Wells Peacock Theatre
till the 25th March 2012. Tickets are on sale now.
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© Chris Cox, February 2012