Penn & Teller 50th Anniversary Tour

Fun and frivolity graced the Brisbane concert hall last night with a night of wacky magic tricks, illusion and lots of audience participation from the ever-popular magicians and entertainers Penn & Teller, particularly well-known for their television programs featuring international guest artists as well as snippets from their own live shows. With Penn's elaborate gift-of-the-gab and Teller's clown-like and whimsical comical displays the show also includes a colourful video backdrop to enhance the flavour and action on stage and plenty of 'house-lights-up' to incorporate and engage the audience with the remarkably diverse program, including the ever-present hush behind the 'how-did-they-do-its'?

What I found fascinating about this show was the somewhat eccentric artistic invention and creativity woven amidst what is essentially mainstream family entertainment. Even reading the program is a mind-boggling array of intrigue, a true reflection of two great minds devoted to their art and how they slowly evolved as a team, eventually leading to year-and-years of exposure and experience in the industry; and both too from humble beginnings.

One of the segments entitled 'Entropy' is particularly of interest, delving into the mysteries of the cosmos, touching on elements of questionable physics and neuro-science, all related to their reputation of being scientific sceptics. Of course, there is a 'magic' in the mysteries of the unknown too, therefore evolving into a most suitable theme for this kind of genre since trying to figure out how it was done sometimes leads one to believe maybe it wasn't an illusion after all! And this has often passed through my mind after viewing so many masterful magicians and artists at work over the years.

Having had an interest in the conjuring world myself since an early age and despite forgetting my white rabbit, top-hat and magic wand, this was indeed a night of enchanting entertainment worth cherishing; and it was bewitching to be in the presence of two artists with such absorbing, fulfilling and successful careers. Incidentally, without giving anything away, wait until you see the end segment …...

Brian Adamson

Photographer: Pete Wallis