MAGICAL MIX
THE elusive, mysterious Stuart Lightbody (his real name, by the way) is on at Alexander Upstairs from Monday to Saturday at 9pm (except Sundays) with his new show, Unique Wonders. The award-winning illusionist/close-up magician is being directed by award-winning Tara Notcutt. This is their fifth collaboration – a potent brew of magic and theatre.
In Unique Wonders, Lightbody, 33, explained: “Some of the pieces performed will be chosen by me, some will be based on choices that the audience members make. No two performances are alike.
“The show is also named Unique Wonders because there are many pieces of sleight of hand performed you will not find in theatres anywhere else in South Africa. I have tracked them down around the world and spent decades learning them and making personal changes.
“But it is mostly called Unique Wonders because of the people who come to watch the show. Each is a unique wonder who brings his or her own attitude and life experiences to the table.
“The show will be 90% the performance of impossible sleight of hand illusions. But it will interact with my thoughts and memories and with the choices from the audience.”
There is even the possibility of further interactions with Lightbody after seeing this show. He cryptically told us: “It’s all very hush hush, I can’t say too much. But everyone who comes to the show gets an old key. That key opens a box that is out in the world.
“I can’t say what the box contains, but it leads to an experience; a performance of sorts, and something more, all at no extra cost. This is an extra layer of experience for those who like to go deeper.
“I’m really not expecting everyone to follow the clues and uncover the hidden layer. It is only for the most curious and adventurous of my audience members. This exact thing hasn’t been done all over the world. It is unique, but it draws inspiration from immersive theatre experiences and ARGs (Alternative Reality Games).
“Performing in places like the UK, Prague and Amsterdam, I have encountered fascinating forms of interactive narrative: plays that happen in a hotel room, or spread out across the city.
“This is the sort of thing you’d usually have to visit New York, London or San Francisco to experience and even then you’d need to know the right people. But why not here?”
Mystified? So are we, but it sounds like you need to be at the show with a chance to get that key to gain entrance into the magical world of Stuart Lightbody – and become part of another magically immersive, theatrically charged illusionary experience somewhere.
Who can resist? And as Lightbody said: “Magic as an art gives us the opportunity to connect with our curiosity, playfulness and wonder. I believe these are important, fundamental human emotions.”
Lightbody’s shows tend to sell out, so booking is advised. Alexander Upstairs is a small venue (it seats 44).
Talking magic, magician Paul Dabek from the UK is performing at the Baxter in the The Jive Cape Town Funny Festival.
Dabek is a magic-comedy showman – very different from Lightbody, who is more theatrical and enigmatic. Both are mesmerising and brilliant.
Dabek is on at the Funny Festival until Tuesday, however but the festival finishes next Sunday.
Unique Wonders is on from Monday to Saturday at 9pm (except Sundays) at the Alexander Upstairs. Tickets are R140 (R120 online) and available at alexanderbar.co.za/ show/uniquewonders or call 021 300 1652.
The Jive Cape Town Funny Festival is on until Thursday at the Baxter. Tickets are R190. Book at Computicket.