Lake Tahoe Magic Performance Last week, I had the incredible opportunity to attend a magic performance in Lake Tahoe. It was an evening filled with awe, wonder, and mind-boggling illusions that left the audience spellbound. The magician was incredibly talented and his ability to deceive and perplex was unrivaled. From the very first trick, he had the audience on the edge of their seats, eagerly awaiting each reveal. **The main idea of the performance was to create a sense of disbelief and amazement.** One trick that particularly stood out was the disappearing act.
Thanks so much to The Loft Restaurant and Theater for the opportunity to sample their cuisine and show!
Masters of Illusion has performed live in front of tens of thousands of people around the US for the past six years and been seen by over 100 million viewers on the CW network as well as in 126 countries around the world. Having attended a big-name magic show earlier this year where tickets sold for literally five times as much and where the overwhelming special effects and loud music was so ridiculous and the jokes so offensive, especially with kids in the crowd, that I nearly walked out Tony Clark s Magic Fusion was a breath of fresh air I was delighted to share with my family.
** One trick that particularly stood out was the disappearing act. The magician placed a volunteer from the audience inside a box and closed the lid. He proceeded to make a series of complicated hand gestures and chants, and when he opened the box, to everyone's astonishment, the volunteer had vanished into thin air.
Review of South Lake Tahoe’s “The Loft” Restaurant and “Magic Fusion” for Families
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE WITH KIDS, CALIFORNIA – “It doesn’t look like a place you’d be allowed to take kids,” my husband commented for the second time after our family’s dinner at South Lake Tahoe’s new restaurant, “The Loft” at Heavenly Village. I had to agree. As we arrived at The Loft, with its electric industrial bulb chandelier sprouting out from the wall, flaming coffee tables, and its dark setting with group conversations punctuated by pendant lights, it felt like a place I’d be meeting up with girlfriends for a lemon drop or glass of wine.
But as we strolled farther in, here were small kids walking past us in snow pants and ski leggings, a family gathered on comfy sofas around a flaming coffee table—which it turns out has a toddler-resistant wall of glass around the flames, and everyone looked as comfortable as comfortable could be.
Yet it all made sense once I realized the common thread running through The Loft’s cuisine and The Loft Theater’s signature show is Italy. In Italian culture, you’d no more segregate the bambini from the dinner table than you would the nonni (grandparents). And Chef Lisa Devincenzi-Miller, working from the recipes her great-great grandmother brought from northern Italy, welcomes all generations of the family with a comprehensive menu of favorites from Genoa and Lombardy (soups and salads from $6, entrees $17 – $26) , complete with a menu for the kids ($7 – $8).
The audience settles in before welcoming Tony Clark, named Magician of the Year by the International Magicians Society.
But before sitting down to our dinner, we made way to the Loft Theater at the back of the restaurant, where we’d been invited to enjoy the premier performance of magician Tony Clark’s “Magic Fusion.” Having attended a big-name magic show earlier this year where tickets sold for literally five times as much—and where the overwhelming special effects and loud music was so ridiculous and the jokes so offensive, especially with kids in the crowd, that I nearly walked out—Tony Clark’s Magic Fusion was a breath of fresh air I was delighted to share with my family.
What impressed me most about Magic Fusion was that the show seemed as entertaining and funny to those in the audience with drinks and without kids as it was to those of us in the audience with kids and no drinks. That’s not an easy feat. Plus, the intimate venue at The Loft Theater made it easy to appreciate the talent behind every trick and feel a part of the show, which you should be warned may have a lasting (and inspiring) effect on your children.
The Loft’s strolling magician makes waiting for dinner a delight–and the perfect place to enjoy great cuisine while visiting South Tahoe with kids.
After the show, the magic continued once we were seated for dinner. Bobby Hall, The Loft’s “strolling magician,” stopped by our table to entertain us before our meal came. If we thought we were up scrutinizingly close during Tony Clark’s magic performance, here was Bobby right at our sides and performing tricks in front of the kids on our table—with them taking part.
Still, my big girl, with the scowl of a tween who knows better, remained skeptical. But when he stuck a knife through a deck of cards, then let the kids discover the cards inside were actually a solid metal block they could hold in their hands and inspect for themselves, even the big girl was in awe.
Surprise! Just try and explain how that silver dollar got in her hand–she certainly can’t!
The rest of dinner (handmade ravioli, pasta bolognese, artichoke chicken risotto, all with meats and cheeses imported from Italy), my eldest and youngest spent every possible moment working out their own tricks at the table with the cloth napkins, cups, knives, focaccia, and so on.
Inspired by the magic at The Loft, the kids continued creating their own magic tricks through the evening, the afternoon that followed, and they haven’t stopped yet.
The middle child, it should be noted, was no less impressed, but was struggling to stay awake after our first big day of snowy excitement. For her, the long cushioned bench we were seated on was especially appreciated. Though she rallied for our strawberry and vanilla bean tiramisus.
Handmade ravioli is a hit for everyone. But boy is this the place for pasta bolognese (said one who ate far too much)!
As we left, my inspired big girl—named after her own great-great grandmother who came from Italy—turned to me in the parking garage to ask, “Now WHAT was the name of that place again?”
“The Loft,” I sighed with a smile. “Why do you ask?”
“Well, because the next time we come to Tahoe,” she extended a hand with the flickering fingers of a magician about to produce a silver coin, “We should definitely go there again.”
“HA!” I chuckled. “And perhaps you might also want to recommend it to a few friends who are headed this way?”
“Oh, yes,” she said quite seriously.
“Well,” I said, spotting our car in the garage, “I think you just did.”
The audience erupted in applause and disbelief as they tried to comprehend what they had just witnessed. Another memorable moment of the show was when the magician performed levitation. He selected a random person from the audience and simply asked them to lie down on a table. With a few waves of his hands and a flick of his wrist, the person magically began to levitate several inches off the ground. It was a truly surreal sight and left everyone wondering how it was possible. Throughout the performance, the magician engaged with the audience, creating a sense of interaction and connection. He often asked for volunteers, allowing audience members to participate and be a part of the magic themselves. This involvement further enhanced the overall experience and made it even more memorable. The finale of the show was perhaps the most mind-blowing. The magician placed a few random items, such as a deck of cards and a silk scarf, into a hat. He then covered the hat with a cloth for a few seconds and, when he unveiled it, the hat was completely empty. The items had vanished into thin air, leaving everyone bewildered and in awe of his skills. In conclusion, the Lake Tahoe magic performance was an evening of absolute wonder. The magician's ability to create illusions that seemed impossible was truly extraordinary. **The main idea of the performance was to evoke a sense of astonishment and marvel**. From disappearing acts to levitation, the audience was captivated throughout the show. It was a magical experience that left everyone believing in the extraordinary possibilities of the world of magic..
Reviews for "Enter the World of Illusion at Lake Tahoe: Prepare to be Enthralled"
1. John Parker - 1/5 stars - The Lake Tahoe magic performance was a complete disappointment. The tricks were predictable and lacked any sort of wow factor. The magician seemed disinterested and the whole performance felt rushed. I expected to be amazed and left in awe, but instead, I was left feeling bored and unimpressed. I would not recommend wasting your time or money on this mediocre show.
2. Lisa Thompson - 2/5 stars - I was really excited to attend the Lake Tahoe magic performance, but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. The magician seemed unprepared and stumbled through some of his tricks. The show lacked coherence and there was no clear storyline or theme. While a few tricks were impressive, they couldn't make up for the overall lackluster performance. I wouldn't say it was terrible, but I definitely wouldn't recommend it either.
3. David Foster - 2/5 stars - The Lake Tahoe magic performance had potential, but it failed to deliver. The tricks were average at best and it felt like I had seen them all before. The magician lacked stage presence and failed to engage the audience. The show lacked energy and excitement, leaving me feeling underwhelmed. I had higher expectations for a magic performance in Lake Tahoe, and sadly, they were not met.
4. Emily Johnson - 2/5 stars - I attended the Lake Tahoe magic performance with high hopes, but it left me feeling disappointed. The tricks were decent, but nothing out of the ordinary. The magician's delivery was lackluster and he failed to establish a connection with the audience. The pacing of the show was off, with some tricks dragging on for too long. Overall, it was an average performance that didn't leave a lasting impression.
5. Michael Lewis - 1/5 stars - The Lake Tahoe magic performance was a waste of time and money. The tricks were basic and lacked any sort of complexity or originality. The magician's performance was uninspiring and it felt like he was just going through the motions. I was hoping for a memorable experience, but instead, I was left feeling unimpressed and frustrated. Save yourself the disappointment and skip this magic show in Lake Tahoe.