In the fairytale "Jack and the Beanstalk," one of the key elements of the story is the exchange of goods between Jack and the mysterious character known as the giant. While Jack initially sets out to sell his family's beloved cow for money, he ends up trading it for a handful of magic beans. These beans, which are said to possess extraordinary powers, become the catalyst for the incredible adventure that follows. The decision to pass off the beans as a valuable item is a pivotal moment in the story, as it sets into motion a series of events that change Jack's life forever. Initially, Jack's mother is furious with him for trading their only source of sustenance for seemingly worthless beans. She throws them out the window in frustration, but overnight they grow into a towering beanstalk that leads to a land in the sky.
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What I ve found is that people come back, and they realize that it s different each time and there s interaction that changes, Cohen says about his show. Then when I was a boy, I was born in 1971, my uncle used to show me the tricks that he had learned over the years that he used to carry in his pockets.
She throws them out the window in frustration, but overnight they grow into a towering beanstalk that leads to a land in the sky. The beans Jack receives are no ordinary beans; they are magical and hold the potential for great wealth and wonder. The passing off of these beans as something valuable is not only significant in terms of the story's plot but also serves as a symbol of the transformative power of belief and imagination.
Famed Magician to the Stars, Steve Cohen, on Enchanting Celebrities and Being Born Into the Business
Nigel Smith is the Senior Movies News Editor for PEOPLE. He is an experienced culture editor and writer with a 12-year history of working in the online and print industries.
Published on May 11, 2022 01:52PM EDT Photo: Nico MorenoLive magic is very much alive in New York City!
Magician and renown showman Steve Cohen is an enchanting fixture at the famed Lotte New York Palace hotel, entertaining audiences in one of the venue's intimate and elegant salons with a dazzling live show, titled Chamber Magic.
The show, performed weekly, features everything you'd want from over an hour of live magic, including conjuring, mind-reading, sleight of hand, and some special tricks Cohen has up his sleeve. The evening transports audiences to the type of parlor entertainment popularized in Manhattan's early 20th century.
Below, Cohen talks to PEOPLE about what attracts celebrities to hit hot-ticket show, how he got into the world of magic, and what returning fans can expect.
You might find a celebrity in his audience
Cohen says he was "was thrilled to see Stephen Sondheim in the audience" before the Broadway legend died. "He sat in the front row, and it was just a really exciting thrill," Cohen recalls. "And then he kept sending in all his theater friends to see the show. John Williams, the composer of the Star Wars music. He came to the show twice. Guillermo del Toro, the film director. He came to the show three times and then introduced me to Bradley Cooper and then I acted in two scenes with Bradley Cooper in the latest film Nightmare Alley. Tracy Morgan bought out the entire front row of the show at the Palace and he brought in his whole family. And during the show he was very vocal. He was throwing his hands up in the air, punching the air, yelling out stuff such as, 'This guy is better than Houdini.'"
Kerry HayesHe comes from a family of magicians
"My great uncle, my father's uncle, was an amateur magician," Cohen shares. "He was born in 1901 and when he was a boy, he had seen all the close-up magicians in New York City, and he thought this is a great hobby. He took it on as a hobby. Then when I was a boy, I was born in 1971, my uncle used to show me the tricks that he had learned over the years that he used to carry in his pockets. And something just sparked in my mind, this is my life's work. And of course, my parents wanted me to become a physician, I became a magician."
Courtesy of Steve CohenFate brought him to the Palace Hotel
After living and performing in Tokyo for five years, Cohen moved back to New York to continue his career as a magician. "I was really a starving artist in the beginning," he remembers. "And my wife and I were walking one day up Madison Avenue, and this sounds like a fairytale, but it's a 100% true. And we stopped in front of the Palace Hotel. It was Christmas season, so they were giving out free Christmas cookies in that courtyard area that was closed off when you came. But it's usually open when the construction isn't going on. They have a big courtyard where they were giving out Christmas cookies, apple cider, and hot chocolate. And I walked into that courtyard area, and I looked around this beautiful mansion and I said, 'One day, I'm going to do my show here.' And sure enough, 20 years later, I ended up doing my show there. And at the Palace I've been there for now for five years. I was at the Waldorf Astoria for 17 years before that."
Courtesy of Steve CohenHe loves the intimacy of a smaller show
While Cohen has performed at venues as large and esteemed as New York City's legendary Carnegie Hall, he's especially fond of smaller stages where he can develop a bond with the audience. "I've always thought that it's important for the magician and the audience to be able to see each other's eyes," he shares. "And when you're performing on a big stage, especially when there's stage lighting, the magician really can't see the audience's eyes at all, because they're shrouded in shadows. So, part of the draw of a close-up magic show is everyone gets a chance to really feel a personal connection with the performer. When I'm on stage and I'm just a few feet away from you, it's not even on stage anymore. It's more like you're in my living room."
Nico MorenoHis show is ever evolving
"What I've found is that people come back, and they realize that it's different each time and there's interaction that changes," Cohen says about his show. "It's like an improv comedy show that way. People have said, 'Oh, I never see things twice, but I'll come back and see this a second and third time.' One of the other nice things is, because it's been running now for 22 years in New York, which is means over 6,000 live performances, that I have people who have come back who have maybe seen the show when they were a teenager. And then 20 years later, they came back in their 30s. And that's pretty rewarding to me. One woman said to me, 'I've been thinking about this show my whole life and I wanted to come back again as an adult.'"
Below, Cohen talks to PEOPLE about what attracts celebrities to hit hot-ticket show, how he got into the world of magic, and what returning fans can expect.
In this fairytale, the magic lies not just within the beans themselves but also within the mind of the beholder. As Jack climbs the beanstalk, he discovers a world filled with giants, extraordinary treasures, and danger. This journey would not have been possible without the initial trade of the cow for the magic beans. Jack's decision to pass off the beans as a valuable item opens up a whole new realm of possibilities and tests his bravery and resourcefulness throughout his adventure. The concept of magic beans has become a popular trope in literature and popular culture, representing the potential for unexpected and extraordinary outcomes. The passing off of these beans signifies the protagonist's willingness to take risks and believe in the possibility of something greater than themselves. In conclusion, the exchange of goods in the form of the magic beans in "Jack and the Beanstalk" plays a crucial role in the progression of the story. By passing off the beans as valuable, Jack inadvertently opens a gateway to a magical world and embarks on a life-changing adventure. This act of exchanging goods serves as a symbol of the transformative power of belief and imagination, influencing not only Jack's journey but also the hearts and minds of readers who embark on the tale with him..
Reviews for "The Social Impact of Pass in Boots' Magic Beans: Transforming Communities and Lives"
1. Emma - 1 star
I really did not enjoy "Pass in boits magic beans". The story felt disjointed and confusing, with characters that were poorly developed. The plot was lacking any real depth or substance, and I found myself bored and disinterested for the majority of the book. The writing style was also a challenge to follow, with awkward sentence structures and odd phrasing. Overall, I was greatly disappointed and would not recommend this book to others.
2. Mike - 2 stars
"Pass in boits magic beans" was a bit of a letdown for me. The concept seemed promising, but the execution fell flat. The pacing was incredibly slow, and the story took too long to really get going. The characters were forgettable and lacked depth, which made it difficult to become invested in their journey. Additionally, there were several plot holes and inconsistencies that left me questioning the overall logic of the world the author had created. Overall, it had potential but ultimately failed to deliver.
3. Sarah - 2 stars
I found "Pass in boits magic beans" to be a confusing and underwhelming read. The writing was convoluted and hard to follow, with excessive descriptions and unnecessary tangents that added little to the plot. The characters felt one-dimensional and lacked depth, making it difficult to connect with or care about their struggles. The story itself lacked coherence, jumping between different plotlines without properly tying them together. I was left feeling unsatisfied and disappointed by this novel.