Chicago Tribune - Recommended
"...Lucy, a character who lands somewhere between Marlene Dietrich and Mae West, fits nicely in the swank quarters at the Rhapsody, where she has a bigger stage and more room to make her signature cocktails appear, vanish and morph into other libations entirely. Hendrix is as much a comedy improviser as a magician and she has apparently used the pandemic to polished her very funny repartee with the audience, using her noirish, glam persona to gently lampoon men who will, it appears, do most anything at her command. She's a PG-rated pleasure, both retro-Vegas and subtly postmodern, enjoyable on many levels and technically accomplished, charming and kind."
Chicago Reader - Highly Recommended
"...But no matter how you dress it up, magic is about how well the artist makes you suspend disbelief, and Hendrix nails the "how did she do that?" aspect. She could perform in khakis and a plaid shirt and it would be as impressive. But not as much fun, and definitely not as sparkly. Why go for beer when you can get girl-drink drunk with Lucy Darling?"
Around The Town Chicago - Highly Recommended
"...Speaking of charms, award-winning magician Carisa Hendrix (stage name: Miss Lucy Darling) is the premiere headliner from now through July 16th. Her show "Indulgence" features magic acts taken from her Las Vegas show. Sassy, sultry, and cheeky, she is smart as a whip in exchanging witticisms with her audience, especially with the men in the first and second rows. The references to alcohol and sexual innuendo (e.g., cherries) are prominent in her flirtatious magic and lighthearted comedy; a lot of this will go over the heads of young children who may be present in the audience (and that is a good thing). The show begins with a random fanning through of a large book containing all sorts of recipes for mixed drinks; and through some mystical power, she is able to create three alcoholic beverages out of one container."
Chicago Theatre Review - Highly Recommended
"...In honor of the new show, Lucy is trying out several new tricks, and as she said, "If they work, you'll be impressed, and if they don't," she added with a smirk, "you'll still be charmed." All the tricks worked, so I was deeply impressed, and after an hour and a half of delightful banter with Lucy, I was also thoroughly charmed."
PicksInSix - Recommended
"...Indulgence brings together two of Chicago’s more legendary forms of entertainment, improv and magic, as the voluptuous mischief-maker Darling welcomes us to her stylized world of vintage Hollywood hijinks, complete with breakfast cocktails and extreme flirtations. From getting-to-know-you situational humor to classic audience participation, Indulgence ebbs and flows between laughter and applause."
Picture This Post - Highly Recommended
"...Though Lucy's magic bona fides are clear, in this writer's view they might be the least of this so-fun show. Dressed to the nines - as in nine millions- with bustier couture accentuating her hourglass silhouette and donning a half-Lucy-Ball-and-half-Marie-Antoinette wig-Lucy's persona of the classy bitch keeps you giggling. That's true even if you are one of the unfortunate stiffs, as this writer was, pressed into service to excite her improv repartee. Yes, she will get grown men to crawl on their hands and knees, or don lipstick. If you somehow become the supporting cast in her act, do know that it's actually quite painless, in Lucy Darling's most able hands. The real magic, in this writer's view, is that Lucy's can do this without anyone feeling scandalized, except perhaps Linda's phoning lawyer who couldn't feel the charm offensive in the cabaret hall."
