The Illusionists-Turn of the Century (2016)

See it if It's a magic show albeit one done with great pizzaz and a fast pace that never gets boring. Surprisingly entertaining.

Don't see it if You want real theater. This is entertainment.

See it if You enjoy magic shows & magicians. Good for tourists who don't want to see a traditional play or musical.

Don't see it if You are looking to see real theater. It's entertaining for what it is but is more suited for Vegas.

See it if Nothing new here; you've seen every tired trick before, presented as a series of acts å la vaudeville. I was embarrassed to be there.

Don't see it if You're looking for cutting edge, unique magic and illusions; this was standard and cliché. Very touristy. Not worth Broadway prices.

See it if IF YOU LOVE MAGIC AND CONJURING!

Don't see it if IF YOU WANT A SHOW WITH A CLASSICALLY TOLD STORY

See it if you love those mind boggling illusions that you have seen done many times, in many different ways by charming illusionists vaudeville style.

Don't see it if you are wanting never before seen amazing illusions that leave you spellbound & you don't want to deal with the worst mannered adults.

See it if You are a magic fan, and will enjoy most traditional magic shows.

Don't see it if You are not already a fan of magicians. This will not make one out of you.

Also First, full disclosure, I went to this show because an acquaintance was playing percussion in the pit orchestra.

And that would be the first thing to note. This is not a musical, but even so, the pit orchestra was thin. Just two keyboards and drums. The musicians were wonderful but the show could have benefitted from a larger orchestra.

The very conceit of the show, "Turn of the Century" is seemingly ignored almost from the word go. I would have been more apt to enjoy the show if it went all out with the idea of doing a "vintage" magic show. But there are only token pieces of vintage gear onstage as a nod to the title of the show. It's just a contemporary magic show.

The pacing is also absurdly slow. I find myself floating in and out of the show. I love long shows with no intermission, but this show just count hold my attention for even mild stretches.... Read more Read less

See it if You like magic shows or still can be childlike in wondering "how they do that", if you want a nice night out esp a family night.

Don't see it if You expect the grandiose atmosphere of Vegas, if you are one to tear the illusions apart, if you can't just enjoy it for its own sake.

See it if you like magic shows..

Don't see it if you don't like magic shows.

See it if If you remember the days of vaudeville.

Don't see it if If you expect to see a magic show that makes sense

Also Most of the "sketches" did not make any sense to me. There seemed to be no point, no payoff. Even the ones that I could follow didn't make much sense. I wonder if an audience in the early 1900s enjoyed this.... Read more Read less

See it if you're looking for a decent length of show for your money and you want a relaxed, no-brain kind of entertainment for the evening

Don't see it if you're looking for particularly innovative or new illusions that you haven't seen before

See it if you want to take your children to a magic show.

Don't see it if you don't like children shows.

Also The show is in a big Broadway theater, full of kids. It is a show with various magicians and illusionists. It is more a Broadway show than an interesting magic tricks. It is so interesting how one falls into the marketing: tv ads, times square poster, reviews, internet, etc... One falls.... Read more Read less

See it if You like magic; you don't mind hokey old-timey patter between your illusions; you like comical magic; you want to figure out how they did it

Don't see it if You don't like old classic routines; you don't want to suspend your disbelief briefly.

Also There were multiple acts and some were more interesting to me than others. I particularly liked "the charlatan" who was very very funny and "the eccentric" (Charlie Frye) who did some of the best and funniest ring work and juggling I've seen.

I also liked "the clairvoyants" who read objects from the audience. It was interesting to try to figure out (or to figure out) how they did what they did. There are still a few I'm totally baffled by, though I know the trick to a decent percentage :)

The other acts were interesting - and overall it was an enjoyable experience if you like magic.... Read more Read less

See it if you get a free ticket. If you have kids to entertain. If you never saw a magic trick in your life. All acts are old and dated.

Don't see it if if you want to see an ispiring, fresh show. This one is a collection of dated magic tricks. No fresh ideas or unexpected acts. Boring.

See it if You enjoy magic in all its forms - the clairvoyants and the marionette were my favorite acts.

Don't see it if You don't like shows with audience participation or lots of children.

See it if you enjoy magic.

Don't see it if you want original acts, many "classic" tricks and weak writing.

See it if you like wasting money on a mediocre evening of "magic". To be fair, act 2 may have been extraordinary... I wasn't there.

Don't see it if you value your entertainment dollars. Really?...card "tricks"?...on a Broadway stage?

Also Plus they should be sued for false advertising about going back to a golden age of magic as if they were going to embody great magicians from the past. Sure they mentioned 1903 and a few magicians names but otherwise it was schlocky "magic" and card tricks and bad jokes from, I dunno, the 80s.
The only real magic trick was how they took me to the cleaners while I was sitting in my seat.... Read more Read less

See it if There was some good magic. However, many of the tricks you could see if you went to a local NYC magic show for demo. It was entertaining.

Don't see it if You don't like magic.

See it if You think Illusions and magic with a humorous touch are right up your alley, and you don't mind an evening of theater without story lines.

Don't see it if You have come to Broadway for a musical or drama, and need to see a story portrayed in order to to fully enjoy a theatrical experience.

See it if If you're into a more dark magic stage show with little to no speaking rather than a play or musical with characters/emotion;

Don't see it if If you're looking for something that moves or is uplifting (not literally);

See it if You have children who may be entertained by this silliness...and you enjoy very old fashioned Illusions with A LOT of Posing!!!

Don't see it if If you can get tickets to a more entertaining Show!

See it if You love illusionists in general. You want to be blown away and entertained.

Don't see it if You only enjoy shows with story and plot.

See it if You enjoy different types of illusions and magical tricks

Don't see it if You want a play with a storyline or you dislike magic

See it if you like magic. This is a Vegas-like magic show, but it feels out of place on Broadway. It's neat and entertaining, but it's far from great.

Don't see it if you hate magic, hate gimmicks, hate shows that feel like they have no place on Broadway (or even in NYC for that matter), or hate fun.

See it if you like old "Vaudeville" type of acts like on the Ed Sullivan show. Why they had I juggling act beat me what was the illusion.

Don't see it if You are expecting big extravagant Las Vegas type of acts . Previous versions of the show it is quite different

See it if Family show! If you are a magic fan, it's great!!

Don't see it if If you saw americas got talent you have seen most of the show! I'm a huge fan or the clairvoyants, they everything from the agt.