Amaze

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British illusionist Jamie Allan has brought his aptly named magic show Amaze to New World Stages and it is truly awesome. His act is so low key that one doesn’t at first realize how remarkable his tricks are taking many familiar and famous magic acts one step further – like the card trick with a deck of blank cards. He also uses his show to build the theory that children are more susceptible to magic and illusion and that we all need to return to our childhood memories and imaginations.

Allan begins by telling us his life story, how he was given a 1982 Fisher-Price Magic Show as his fifth Christmas present and began to perform as “The Amazing Jamie” in the cabaret in his parents’ pub alongside his mother Kay Kennedy who was a professional singer. He also acquired the collection of Richard Pitchford, a famous magician, which included the best texts on magic which he still reveres to this day. He was hooked on magic, which he tells us is the second oldest profession, from childhood on. Even his grandfather taught him tricks that he still performs.

The set by Damien Stanton not only includes many of his childhood toys in a cabinet on stage but also depicts on a giant video screen the actual attic in his childhood home where he practiced his art, alternating with posters of his favorite magicians. Beginning with card tricks that become more and more difficult as the evening goes on (all of which are enlarged on video screens), he uses much audience participation, giving preference to the younger members of the audience.

His helpers include Natalia Love who is made to disappear and later levitate without strings or wires, proved by using a hoop to demonstrate that she is free floating. To make this more difficult, Allan levitates a second person at the same time – himself. A motorcycle is made to appear out of thin air with no clue as to where it came from.

In the second half of the show, his displays become even more impossible like the seemingly impenetrable panes of glass through which he is able to thread a ribbon. He then goes on to what he calls “Digital Art” in which objects from four iPads appear to move from one to the other as well as giving off objects that appear to come out of the screens. He ends with an event in which he asks the audience to make random calculations on their smart phones which results in everyone getting the same significant number. He also does several acts with writing or objects that have previously been hidden on stage which turns out to be the chosen names or objects picked by random audience members.

Directed by Jonathan Goodwin, Jamie Allan’s Amaze is astonishing. Allan’s low-key demeanor is always charming as well as instructive in the ways of magic. Reminding us that there are two kinds of people, those who believe in magic and those who are skeptics, he truly converts a great many of the audience after his seemingly impossible tricks of sleight of hand.

Jamie Allan’s Amaze (extended through December 10, 2025)

New World Stages, 340 W. 50^th Street, in Manhattan

For tickets, visit http://www.Broadway.com

Running time: two hours and 15 minutes including one intermission