Interludes

VIEWPOINTS – This summer, a flamboyant escape artist and a down-to-earth illusionist endeavor to wow in SEVEN DEADLY SINS and AMAZE

• By drediman
• August 15, 2025
• No Comments

This sultry summer, a pair of high profile magic shows are gracing the boards of two of Off-Broadway’s largest venues. If the sweltering heat and stifling humidity are getting to you, you may just want to consider these two breezy, escapist entertainments. As per usual, read on for my thoughts.

LORD NIL: SEVEN DEADLY SINS
Stage 42
Through August 31

Running through the end of the month at Stage 42 is Lord Nil: 7 Deadly Sins (SOMEWHAT RECOMMENDED), an flamboyantly eye-catching Las Vegas-style show that showcases the astonishing Harry Houdini-esque talent of Lord Nil, an Italian illusionist and dare devil. Indeed, his skills as an escape artist are undeniable and invariably impressive, requiring immense strength and concentration. In fact, with its focus on escape acts, the show is a welcome departure from the typical magic/illusionist shows that frequent New York every once in a while. Unfortunately, the production that frames them is muddled and unfocused. Although each death-defying trick is supposed to represent Lord Nil’s confrontation with one of the seven deadly sins, the entire premise is vaguely presented (e.g., it’s not always clear which sin is being depicted). Bringing much needed specificity and some cohesion to the 70-minute affair is the Vice — played with amusing tongue-in-cheek glee by Steph Payne — who acts as the evening’s dominatrix-like emcee. But for the most part, the whole conceit comes across simply as an excuse for Lord Nil to escape every lock and chain that he’s faced with, in the process breeding an increasing sense of repetition. That being said, 7 Deadly Sins is a rather elaborate production. As directed by Alberto Oliva, the show has been given a dark — albeit somewhat kitschy — look, complete with large set pieces, immersive video projections, a support crew, and a slew of game dancers (the generic commercial choreography is by Stefano Alessandrino). There’s also something crowd-pleasing and energizing about the old fashioned bravado with which Lord Nil performs.

JAMIE ALLAN’S AMAZE
New World Stages
Through November 2

Faring much better over at New World Stages is Jamie Allan’s Amaze (RECOMMENDED), which arrives on our side of the pond after having successfully played London’s West End. If you’ve seen similar types of magic shows in the past, there’s nothing here that will truly astound you from a technical perspective. Where the show excels and disarms, however, is how it brings these acts of magic down to a deeply personal level. In many ways, the show is first and foremost a theatrical memoir, with Allan recounting his budding love of magic — via a Fisher-Price magic set — within the context of heartwarming memories of his childhood (especially relating to his wonderfully supportive parents), as well as his development into a world class magician and illusionist. Given this framework, each trick is imbued with intimacy, authenticity, and emotional potency. Those who grew up in the 1980s (like yours truly) will particularly be affected by the show. There’s a nod throughout to The NeverEnding Story that concludes the gently interactive, beguilingly grounded show with quite the visual coup (no spoilers here!). Indeed, the entire production — which has been directed with sensitivity and deceptively light touch by Jonathan Goodwin — has been lovingly augmented by pop cultural artifacts from the era. Although there is the occasional lull (the intermission could have easily been done away with), Allan has down-to-earth charisma and is a natural and quietly captivating storyteller. Suffice to say, Amaze has real heart, which is in refreshing contrast to the unabashed brashness and mechanical bombast that usually accompanies such shows (like the aforementioned and concurrently running Lord Nil: 7 Deadly Sins).