Pure Magic

By Gerald Clarke

BLACKSTONE!

Directed and Choreographed by Kevin Carlisle

"Magic," said Harry Blackstone, the great magician, is "nothing but pure psychology -- applied in the right place." That is probably as succinct a definition of the illusionist's art as anyone will ever come up with. What Blackstone discovered was not that audiences can be fooled. It was rather that they long to be fooled and are willing accomplices along the way.

Before he died in 1965, Blackstone apparently gave most of his secrets, and much of his orotund manner, to Harry Jr., who brings all of the old tricks, and a few new ones, to Broadway. The new, modernized Blackstone slices a woman in half with a 36-inch rotary saw; he makes an elephant disappear; he turns a lady into a tiger. Birds vanish, and an eagle suddenly materializes. A glowing light bulb leaves the stage and floats up the aisles, with the magician close behind, spinning a hoop around it to show that there are no hidden wires. Thirteen grown men, volunteers all, tie Blackstone into knots -- which he breaks faster than you can say his name. He is also assisted by a camel, a donkey, a baby rabbit, an orchestra and a troupe of young and enthusiastic dancers.

Blackstone! is, in short, an updated version of a show that has been delighting audiences for years. Forget the fact that the dances look as if they had been choreographed by the quarterback of the Los Angeles Rams. Forget, too, the fact that the corn in Blackstone's patter is as high as his elephant's eye. His show is fun.

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