Magic and Illusions

Latest Articles

Interview: Ricky Jay

Ricky Jay discusses his latest work, A Rogue's Gallery: An Evening of Conversation & Performance
"There are people who react strangely. I've had people who will clutch rosary beads or throw glasses."
By JON GARELICK | April 01, 2009

Not-so-sure guys

Pseudoscience debunkers and original thinkers unite in their lack of faith
It’s a few days after Charles Darwin’s 200th birthday, and Rebecca Watson is posted up at the Asgard, a popular bar down the road from MIT, passing out leaflets promoting an upcoming “Skeptics in the Pub” event.
By GEORGIANA COHEN | March 19, 2009

Great escape

Momix bring their best to FirstWorks
Writing about the dance troupe Momix is as tricky as describing effervescence
By JOHNETTE RODRIGUEZ | November 04, 2008

Witch way

In honor of Halloween, I run a spell-check
After visualizing “financial security,” I readied for Ed McMahon’s knock. No such luck — but the next morning, tucked in a pocket, I found seven dollars !
By DEIRDRE FULTON | October 22, 2008

Spelling lessons

Campus witches have no brooms, no bleeding goats. Just cookies. Sorry.
A fair number of college students are turning to Wicca for spiritual identity.
By SARA FAITH ALTERMAN | October 31, 2008

The illusionist

Anish Kapoor at the ICA
Kapoor’s work looks like nothing in reproduction; you have to experience it in person to get it.
By GREG COOK | June 06, 2008

A look back

A longtime Maine artist gets a mini-retrospective
“Integrity” is the word that comes to mind while walking through the Lois Dodd show at the Center for Maine Contemporary Art in Rockport.
By KEN GREENLEAF | May 07, 2008

Scoring points

Tiger Saw show some animation
A tap-dancer, a magician, and an eight-piece horn section. According to a recent Web-site missive from Tiger Saw, the latest incarnation of the Newburyport-based indie collective includes all three.
By MATT ASHARE | May 09, 2008

Rough magic

Shining City at the Huntington; ASP’s The Tempest
The cupboards of Irish dramaturgy are crammed with ghosts.
By CAROLYN CLAY | March 18, 2008

A philosopher in bunny ears

Steve Martin’s new memoir unlocks the freaky logic of his comedy
Martin’s new memoir, Born Standing Up , grants us our best access yet to this remote and brilliant figure — the cool architect of the comedy.
By JAMES PARKER | December 31, 2007

Urban cheek

BalletRox's Nutcracker
There are several meanings to the word popular, and BalletRox’s The Urban Nutcracker satisfies the truest of them.
By MARCIA B. SIEGEL | December 11, 2007

Holy war

No salvation for Clive Barker’s Jericho
Clive Barker doesn’t do subtlety.
By MITCH KRPATA | October 30, 2007

Hello, Boombazi

“Dear Momma, can you say, ‘Revolution’”
Boombazi have performed one of the more difficult music magic tricks: They’ve managed to create a funk-heavy sound that isn’t at all dated and actually moves the genre forward.
By SAM PFEIFLE | October 03, 2007

Do you believe in Magic?

Bruce Springsteen returns to the E Street Band
On Magic (Columbia), Bruce Springsteen’s first album with the E Street Band in five years, not everything is what it seems.
By JEFF TAMARKIN | October 01, 2007

Kundalini conjuror

Could be verse: poetry ripped from the headlines
Lines upon reading that Britney Spears may recently have spent the night with the heavy-metal illusionist Criss “Mindfreak” Angel
By JAMES PARKER | August 23, 2007

Square dancing

From ArtBeast to Hogwarts Square
Somerville’s annual ArtBeat festival operates under the idealistic philosophy that kids and adults can have fun together.
By IAN SANDS | July 30, 2007

The last Potter

What does the end mean for Harry’s strange Boston disciples?
The end is never easy, is it?
By SHARON STEEL | July 24, 2007

Prisoners’ guru to speak in Maine

Human kindness
Mainers will get a chance to discuss prison life with Bo Lozoff.
By LANCE TAPLEY | July 18, 2007

Jaglom dreams on

And psychiatry gets The Treatment
For his shaky, pretentious first film, A Safe Place , Henry Jaglom conned Orson Welles into playing a magician.
By GERALD PEARY | May 22, 2007

Ah, youth!

Trinity Rep’s spirited The Fantasticks
This imaginative and flawlessly performed staging of The Fantasticks sets off every spark in this fireworks celebration of youth.
By BILL RODRIGUEZ | April 10, 2007

Sleight of hand

Ricky Jay releases an album
Ricky Jay laughs when I tell him he reminds me of Fred Astaire.
By TED DROZDOWSKI | February 20, 2007

The Illusionist

A not so magical story
What is it about magicians that they’re able to conjure the most stunningly attractive women, only to have them disappear? Watch the trailer for The Illusionist (Quicktime)
By BRETT MICHEL | February 20, 2007

The Prestige

A movie with a few tricks of it own
Postmodern turns out to have been the wrong word, and world, for the Nolan brothers (director Christopher and screenwriter Jonathan) of Memento fame. Watch the trailer for The Prestige (QuickTime)
By JUSTINE ELIAS | February 20, 2007

Never mind the Citgo

Beyond the clichés and picture postcards, Boston hangs on to its character
For all the complaints that Boston is losing its character, there’s still a lot to this old, weird city. It’s just a matter of taking a closer look.
By MIKE MILIARD | July 05, 2006