1923 LIVE’s secret room at Venetian Resort serves parlor tricks, kick-ass cocktails, and giggles galore…
Leg·er·de·main – skillful use of one’s hands when performing conjuring tricks…
In many ways, old-school magic has become a punchline. It came to a head with Steve Carell’s brilliant The Amazing Burt Wonderstone. The Vegas-set comedy, which skewered Copperfield, Siegfried & Roy, and Criss Angel, made it nearly impossible to take big-scale magic shows seriously.
The Incredible Burt Wonderstone (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Next came a wave of comedy magicians. Mike Hammer, James Michael, the team at LATE NIGHT MAGIC, with rapping magician Mervant Vera pushing boundaries even further. Along the way, speakeasies and secret rooms quietly gave rise to classic close-up magic, and Las Vegas has some kick-ass representation on that front.
Mervant Vera
This writer’s first experience with close-up magic was at the now-defunct Royal Resort. Guest performer Banachek accomplished feats that I’ll never comprehend. The respected entertainer later headlined at The STRAT, but his intimate performance is what stuck with me the most.
THE MAGICIAN’S STUDY is shrouded in mystery…
Next came The Magician’s Study, a knockout “secret experience” with a nameless star. The location isn’t revealed until hours before the performance, and guests don’t learn the star’s identity until the “rabbit comes out of the hat.” You can read my full review here.
Chills and thrills abound in Kent Axell’s GHOST STORIES…
GHOST STORIES, a supernatural-infused take on the genre, pushes magic into the darker realms. Star Kent Axell, whom I describe as “handsome and slightly sinister”, holds guests captive with a blend of amazement and fear. Perfect for Halloween, but a blast year-round, GHOST STORIES performs at Mandalay Bay’s 1923 Prohibition Bar. You can learn more by clicking here.
1923 Prohibition Bar opened a second location at Venetian’s Grand Canal Shoppes earlier this year. From the outset, the focus would be on entertainment. 1923 LIVE, which we announced here, is nestled above Minus 5 Ice Bar. The stylish speakeasy features a performance venue for resident band THE DOCKSIDERS…and another secret.
As ‘1923 LIVE’s hidden speakeasy magic and comedy show, LEGERDEMAIN will shuffle close-up magic with comedy and rich storytelling in a new experience performed for small audiences. One of the rarest tickets in town, the show is engaging and the audience isn’t just watching, they are part of the show. Additionally, custom cocktails are woven into the captivating performance.
While you’re exploring the plush lounges, vintage-look bar, and gorgeously-appointed showroom, you might notice some people disappearing into a hidden doorway. Therein lies LEGERDEMAIN: Conjuring – Cocktails-Comedy, the latest close-up magic show in Las Vegas.
VEGAS 411 got an early June sneak peek at the purpose-built room (below), then returned this month for a full performance. It was, indeed, a worthy addition to the rising genre of close-up magic while serving up lots more.
In his desire to provide cutting-edge entertainment, proprietor Noel Bowman attracted the talents of Benjamin Schrader and Jonathan Levit. This pair of enchanting gentlemen, who co-created LEGERDEMAIN, turned it into an NYC hot ticket before launching it at 1923 LIVE.
Now that they’re back on the East Coast, Schrader and Levit have bequeathed their production to a new team. Magician John Accardo comes to us by way of Los Angeles. The award-winning illusionist is familiar to TV audiences and cruise ship passengers worldwide.
His less-than-serious foil is Emily Windler, who suspiciously resembles “Wanda Widdles” of ABSINTHE. A self-professed clown and opera singer (!), Ms. Windler is a popular name in and around the Pacific Northwest.
Together, Accardo and Windler bring curiosity, amazement, humor, and a distinctive edge to “traditional parlor magic”. The final sequence is an absolute knockout you’ll remember long after the applause.
Since the element of surprise is vital, we won’t spoil any secrets here. But you can expect a vintage Victrola, cocktail shaker, card decks, and a shocking phone call to be featured somewhere along the way. And no matter how you feel about magic shows, “How did they do that?” will undoubtedly be on your lips as you re-enter the real world.
THE CONJURORS (Matthew Pomeroy and Natasha Lamb) attend LEGERDEMAIN
Company Manager Hollie England. helms the Vegas version of LEGERDEMAIN. You may know Ms. England from LATE NIGHT MAGIC and her contributions to Cirque du Soleil’s MAD APPLE. The show is presented by SPI Entertainment (Terry Fator, Thunder From Down Under, ROUGE, iLuminate).
There is no offensive content in LEGERDEMAIN, but as it takes place within a bar, children are not permitted. So leave them with a sitter and head out to 1923 LIVE. Stick around after the show for wonderful cocktails courtesy of bar manager Devin Bennett.
1923 LIVE is also home to THE DOCKSIDERS, our choice for 2023’s “Best Tribute Band“. You can order DOCKSIDERS tickets by heading here.
LEGERDEMAIN: Conjuring – Cocktails – Comedy performs Thursday through Sunday at 7:30 pm. Tickets include two cocktails and can be reserved here. 1923 Live is located inside Grand Canal Shoppes of Venetian Resort Las Vegas.