Chicago Tribune
- Recommended
"...So there is a highly distinctive and intriguing show buried here. If you like the work of intimate illusionists (as distinct from the David Copperfields and Nik Wallendas of the profession), you'll be thrilled by the future possibilities of what your eyes behold."
Chicago Sun Times
- Highly Recommended
"...True to its title, “The Magic Play,” Andrew Hinderaker’s highly original, altogether remarkable new work, is full of sleight-of-hand astonishments. But the real magic in this engrossing theatrical hybrid — now receiving a meticulously polished world premiere at the Goodman Theatre, in what is unquestionably a Broadway-ready production — involves a very different bag of tricks altogether."
Daily Herald
- Recommended
"...I won't spoil the play by revealing the clever tricks magic designer Jim Steinmeyer conjures. But at least one will have you at the edge of your seat. Another -- which demonstrates how easily a person can be erased from our lives -- will tug at your heart."
Chicago Reader
- Highly Recommended
"...Uniquely, though, our engagement is guaranteed by that love story. Cirque du Soleil notwithstanding, genre fusions are usually an awkward business, betraying every discipline involved. Not here. Hinderaker's dramatic narrative slides smoothly into the lore and practice of magic, each enhancing the other in ways that aren't just satisfying but slightly dangerous. An enormous house of cards sits stage right, uncomfortably, like a Chekhovian pistol, all during The Magic Play's 135-minute running time; its ultimate use neatly expresses the production's unity of forms."
Windy City Times
- Recommended
"...This world-premiere production is not without its flaws. Seating configurations in the Goodman's Owen obstructs the view from most of the floor, and while video-feed projects the table action onto a gigantic scrim, it tends to pull our attention away from the more visually interesting trio of Brett Schneider as the vulnerable flimflam artist, Sean Parris as his brash antagonist and Francis Guinan as his dissipated dad. This in no way diminishes the contributions of director Halena Kays or the superlative tech team ( notably magic designer Jim Steinmeyer and aerial consultant Sylvia Hernandez-DiStasi ) in conjuring-well, magic, however you define it."
ChicagoCritic
- Recommended
"...I'll not reveal more including the remaining magic acts and the powerful final illusion that greatly impacts the play. The inclusion of personal life elevates The Magic Play above being a magic show yet as a magic show, this work is both engaging and engrossing. The three actors were outstanding with Brett Schneider demonstrating complete stage skills proving that magic is, indeed, a theatre skill. This is an adult show. It is worth seeing."
Chicago Theatre Review
- Highly Recommended
"...This wonderful play, which combines the wonders of a polished magic act with the magic that occurs within the human heart, is a jaw-dropping, pulse-racing drama generously seasoned with comedy and loads of mind-boggling magic. While not for younger audiences (Hinderaker’s script contains certain adult themes and is unnecessarily awash with profanity), this magnificent play is surprisingly entertaining and moving. In the end, it’s the play, and not the illusions, that offers the audience the real magic."
Chicagoland Theater Reviews
- Recommended
"...That script is authored by playwright Andrew Hinderaker, an ensemble member of Chicago’s Gift Theatre. Halena Kays is the director. The physical production features some superior lighting effects designed by Maggie Fullilove-Nugent, enhanced by John Boesche’s vivid projection design. Alison Siple designed the costumes and Lizzie Bracken the minimalist but atmospheric set. This is a show that always looks good. Christopher Kriz designed the sound plan, effectively injecting subliminal sounds to enhance the magic presentations. Jim Steinmeyer receives credit for his “magic design.” I’m not sure what that entails but he and Schneider definitely unite to deliver marvels."
The Fourth Walsh
- Recommended
"...THE MAGIC PLAY thrills in its mystifying feats. Later, when Schneider actually debunks a card trick for Parris to build trust, the reality is disappointing. I want the magic over the humanity. I want to believe Schneider is a sorcerer. I want the illusion love conquers all. THE MAGIC PLAY is more real than fantasy. And that makes it an interesting play but a disenchanting magic show."
Third Coast Review
- Recommended
"...Throughout the play, mind-blowing card-trick magic continues as volunteers are drawn in to the drama. While still onstage, the Magician begins to unravel, revealing trade secrets, and becoming confused and distracted by his emotions. We learn of his negligent father, a clue the Diver thinks explains the Magician's unwillingness to open up to a relationship. Of course, the Diver encourages the Magician to reconcile with his father, in hopes that it will help their relationship. The Father, played by Steppenwolf veteran Francis Guinan, a down-market magician himself, is soon revealed as a man who took off after turning his young son on to magic. Guinan is spot on in his rendition of a self-absorbed, callous yet somehow frail dad who would have tried harder if he knew how."
Picture This Post
- Highly Recommended
"...Anyone who goes to The Magic Play expecting a magic show is in for far more than they bargained for, quite literally. First off, The Magic Play is a first-rate magic show, with some tricks that will leave you scratching your head for days. The most surprising and magical part for me, however, was the strength of the play that frames it, with relatable characters and some heartbreaking storytelling on themes of love and loss. Anyone with father issues (and who does not have this to some degree in our culture of paternal absence?) will connect with the pain of the magician who seems to be able to grant everyone's wish except his own."
