“For much of the evening, the buildup for each trick is too lengthy, the commitment to personal revelation too patchy. Mr. DelGaudio seems torn between wanting to deliver gee-whiz effects and wanting to withhold them in service of something more sophisticated…But here’s the real wizardry: The show works. Beautifully. Tenderly. Astonishingly…Wonder is a rare commodity these days. So take a card. Any card. And find it.”
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"If you come expecting a succession of quick routines and exuberant showmanship, 'In & Of Itself' will confound. But give yourself over to its subtler brand of magic and you should emerge pondering deeper questions beyond, 'How the hell did he do that?!' But you will ask that, too. DelGaudio masterfully performs six illusions...If the show sounds like a grab bag of unrelated elements, it eventually coalesces...It's best to enter in the dark if you want to fall under its heady spell."
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"'In & Of Itself,' directed by Frank Oz, has ambitions beyond wowing you; it uses its illusions in the service of a serious-minded investigation into identity. It is the most personal and emotional magic show I have ever seen—it makes people cry—and DelGaudio’s performance has only deepened during the run. To describe what he does as a magic show at all seems almost like a form of misdirection. It’s not just magic; it’s magical."
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"Each tale eventually leads to an unexpected, jaw-dropping trick...As a storyteller, DelGaudio is undeniably compelling, making the show feel intimate and personal. As a magician, well, there’s a reason he’s collected so many awards for his work and served as a consultant on Christopher Nolan’s film 'The Prestige.' Ultimately, though, the true magic of the show is its philosophical consideration of illusion, identity, and perception."
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“Our charming host has ample opportunity to be a commanding narrative storyteller, with extraordinary illusions woven throughout in the manner of a musical score. They're not merely pauses for entertainment value but engine-driving, load-bearing moments that elevate magic from a diversion to a fine art. For perhaps the first time, magic is raising the question why instead of how — and why is leading to far more interesting answers.”
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"A show with a surprisingly soulful quality...You could easily be forgiven for wondering, during the first thirty minutes, exactly where all of this is headed. Gradually, however, DelGaudio gets down to business, working a series of breathtaking sleight-of-hand card routines...A strange hybrid of magic and performance, 'In & Of Itself' left me somewhere between bewitched and bemused...I think I can guarantee it's unlike anything you've seen before."
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“Although it's intended as a meditation on the nature and influence of identity, such concerns invariably fall behind the magic in prominence at every juncture…For more precise balance, an experienced playwright to aid with structure, or at the very least more time to develop the ideas, would not hurt. Really, though, you're not apt to care if the tricks are good, and those here are pretty great…He and his show are about as compelling, if not as groundbreaking, as they come.”
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“Mesmerizing…DelGaudio’s expert, nimble fingers move quickly and rhythmically to produce amazing feats of sleight of hand. Remarkable! How does he do it? This is the next level, the extreme level, of sleight of hand…The actual ending leaves you incredulous…Derek DelGaudio raises esoteric questions that we can choose to ponder and answer.”
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