Review: ‘Magical Life’ by Larry Hass is a blend of magic, philosophy and Chicago
The Rhapsody Theatre in Rogers Park is owned by Ricardo Rosenkranz, who bills himself as the physician magician, theming his show around healing and hope. Now, at the same venue, comes Larry Hass, who bills himself as the philosopher magician, theming his show around ideas and beliefs.
Both men are longtime academics who have come to magic later in life, and are more focused on building narratives than doing flashy tricks. And, as such, they have genuine appeal for people who enjoy sitting at a table in a beautiful venue, watching accomplished sleight of hand and pondering life’s deeper questions. It’s a nerd-magic niche, perhaps, but it’s a very stimulating one.
Hass, who is performing at the Rhapsody through mid-August, is a very warm and interactive presence. Before his classy show, he shrewdly gathers enough information from the audience so he can call them up by name as “friends,” rather than shouting something like, “You, there in the third row.” There are cards, envelopes and markers on the tables, allowing for several of Hass’ tricks to be performed by the audience itself (“I am a magician, but so are you”), adding to the sense of community, as does Hass’ constant solicitation of what the audience considers to be “meaningful.”
Better yet, Hass has made his show very much about Chicago: one of his illusions involves a map of the city’s neighborhoods and he peppers his work with references to his experiences in the city, even though he now lives in Washington, D.C.
His transitions move smoothly from the South Side to Socrates, Giordano’s to Gandhi, Bucktown to Buddhism, Avondale to Aristotle, North Center to Nietzsche. You get the idea. The show is not obsessively heady (these mostly are card and rope tricks, after all), but Hass, who has a doctorate in philosophy, is very interested in the intersection of ideas and illusions and his show reflects that fascination.
Hass is a disciple of the late Eugene Burger, a Chicago-based teacher who was beloved by many magicians and a man who had a Yale University divinity degree. Many of his students, like Hass, eschew flash and prefer instead to trick the eye as the audience’s collective brain invests in stuff that matters.
And on Thursday night, the Rhapsody was filled with philosophical types.
Chris Jones is a Tribune critic.
Review: “Magical Life” (3 stars)
When: Through Aug. 12
Where: Rhapsody Theater, 1328 W. Morse Ave.
Running time: 1 hour, 40 minutes
Tickets: $25-$75 at 888-495-9001 and rhapsodytheater.com
