Vitaly: An Evening of Wonders

“Beckman is a different breed of magician...I was completely dumbfounded by not only the uniqueness of the tricks but also by how impossible it was for me to figure them out...Vitaly doesn’t have the glitz and glamour of other magicians...He simply plays himself without much fanfare...The staging is fairly minimal...His statement is very clear: the focus is solely on the magic acts...Simply astounding...These are magic tricks in their own category of amazing.” Full Review

“These were illusions I have never seen done before, he is a true original with his work – and apparently – a comedian! His banter with the audience was encouraging and comforting - I did not expect to be laughing so much at a magic show...Vitaly manipulated art, defied gravity, altered photos – and even toyed with everyday items from the audience! He collected licenses and tricked us all, it was truly an incredible sight – Go see for yourself!” Full Review

"Much to my surprise, I was delighted by the energetic and charming Vitaly and his 'Evening of Wonders'...It is the best magic show I have seen in ages...I know I was flabbergasted and intrigued throughout...Which is exactly how a magic show, I think, should leave you, desperate to figure out just how did he do that wondrous thing." Full Review

"The illusionist only made one mistake, in a set piece where he serves people drinks while blindfolded, but that made me appreciate him even more. If what he does is fallible, then his success rate is quite astounding. Vitaly said he even 'fooled' Penn and Teller, who started out at this very same theater. Or let’s just say he filled them with wonder." Full Review

“Beckman is an astounding magician and illusionist. He’s created a fun evening that will dazzle audiences of all ages with tricks that impress...Intimate-scale magic. Working on a mostly bare stage with a few tables and chairs, backed by a projection screen, he demonstrates, with modest props, a series of charmingly baffling illusions. He brings art to life a number of times in extremely creative and amazing ways.” Full Review

“Vitaly's illusions were truly amazing. He made faces disappear off driver's licenses that he gathered from members of the audience! He made a paint brush work on its own and did a variety of illusions using playing cards and photographs...The show is definitely filled with audience participation...This show is perfect for kids because the illusions are amazing but nothing is scary. The show also runs for a little over an hour so it is not too long for kids to sit through.” Full Review

"The show is interactive, but that doesn’t mean you have to sit in the first row to participate. He bounded up and down stairs...to get volunteers...He performs around 10 different illusions, which doesn’t sound like very many, but they were not quick hits. They often involved getting audience members up on stage or him going back and forth between audience members. None disappointed...It’s a show for all ages.” Full Review

“Entertaining...The youthful, athletic, beaming, and unconventionally handsome Beckman holds forth for 75 delightful minutes with his slight native Russian accent. Though there’s not a big wow factor on display there’s enough cool sequences to make the production quite enjoyable for both adults and children...A crafty program of accomplished trickery and artful patter that Beckman smoothly delivers.” Full Review

"Beckman’s goofy, self-proclaimed Seinfeld-like charm quickly wins over the audience with a range of tricks that he mostly pulls off without a hitch...'Vitaly’s' most magical moments involve Beckman’s love of art, in which he draws figures on a sketchpad. Before our eyes, the thick, black lines move into something entirely new, and with a slow wave of his hand over the image, they transform into color, then three-dimensional, and eventually fly off the page." Full Review

"Beckman’s 'wonder' is that his show doesn’t aim to provide cocktail-hour political fodder. It is a hermetically sealed experience; it pays no mind to the political armament of a lot of our theater. If this sounds like a relief, that’s because it feels like a relief...Beckman is a unicorn: a neat trick in itself...There is no doubt that’s it’s refreshing to watch him — and to ask, 'How did he do that?'” Full Review

"Appealing but far from extraordinary magic show…Vitaly's show…is certainly amusing and its tricks are as likely to stump us as they did Penn and Teller. It has a low-tech, low-budget feeling that suggests the even more mindboggling street magic artistry of David Blaine. When compared to the more technically sophisticated pizazz of…last season's 'Derren Brown: Secret,' the show's script and ambiance, not to mention the exceptionalism of its magic, lose a few points." Full Review

“Beckman’s perfectly charming 80-minute diversion...is a far cry from the grand spectacles of magic and illusion that occasionally pop up on Broadway. There's no sexy dramatics...He's just a friendly guy with some corny jokes and a playful desire to make people want to smile." Full Review

"Beckman, whose biggest claim to fame may be an appearance on Penn & Teller's TV show 'Fool Me,' is probably not the most amazing magician currently in town -although he is quite a good one. However, he's a charming, attractive and often self-effacing companion who creates a lovely rapport with the audience (many of whom become enthusiastic volunteers) which is an excellent gift for any entertainer to have in his repertoire." Full Review

“The endearing Beckman has a cheesy flare for the dramatic, which works against his incredible talent as an illusionist...While his technique is incredibly precise, the illusions are often only mildly interesting...Lack the originality and personal touch that might differentiate him from other illusionists...For some, Beckman's talent will be enough; others, may find the theatricality to leave something to be desired.” Full Review

"There are delightful moments in this showcase for the Russian-Israeli-Canadian illusionist Vitaly, and even a few beautiful ones...Magic isn’t bought, it’s sold, and that's where Vitaly stumbles. While his gawky demeanor and unimposing delivery are endearing in a way, they can't anchor a full-length evening; his creative illusions deserve better set-ups than corny jokes, scattered crowd work and a vague suggestion of the supernatural." Full Review

“Sleight-of-hand tricks, mentalist feats, and illusions of telekinesis and metamorphosis with playful banter, audience participation, video projections, and live-feed camerawork...At times makes us feel as if we were watching it on TV, not right before our eyes. Other shortcomings...are groan-inducing running gags and tricks that lack variety...But despite these issues, 'Vitaly' retained his cool, his charm, and a personal connection with the audience.” Full Review

“Audience interaction is often an integral part of any show of this type, Vitaly takes it to the extreme...It’s not long before a feeling of repetition sinks in, not with the illusions, but in the set-ups and ongoing banter with every person who takes part...He tries too hard...instead of just letting his efforts speak for themselves...A fun piece for children...However, with a bit of restructuring or by having one of the creative team act as director, it could have been something far more sp... Full Review

“Beckman is toothy and jokey, charisma-proof, but somehow likable...Patter was straight-up terrible, with gags about controlling wives, doctors’ handwriting and van Gogh’s ear. If several of the tricks feel original, nearly all of them feel hokey...Beckman has a deft and surprising way with Photoshop. If you are ever longing for a sorcerous way to improve the picture on your driver’s license, he is definitely the magician to call...Less an evening of wonder, than an evening of ‘Hunh? O.K.’” Full Review