Radnevsky's Real Magic

There’s little mystery and even less magic in Radnevsky’s Real Magic, currently in performances at La Mama E.T.C.. The intimate, yet impersonal, show mixers history with mystery by portraying the return to the stage of The Great Radnevsky (played here by Peter Samelson) who stopped performing thirty years ago, after a member of the audience mysteriously died during a show. Joining Radnevsky onstage is his assistant Harry Telkhines (Dennis Kyriakos) and much drama ensues, including too-loud music, a ghost that appears on a stomach and some impressive card tricks.The premise of the plot follows Harry, who idolized Radnevsky as a child, resenting his role as an assistant and reaming of moving beyond Radnevsky and establishing himself as a magician in his own right. It also explains why Radnevsky left the stage so many years ago and features some very impressive tricks, including the classic one of sawing an audience member in half. Unfortunately the quality of the tricks are overshadowed by campy acting and excessive use of atmospheric techniques such as thumping disco music and the staging of one of Radnevsky’s dreams, which is, quite simply, bizarre beyond belief. A plot twist takes place at the end, but it is neither surprising nor well-staged and still leaves the show with an incomplete feeling.The magic tricks are by far, the best part of the show, which would have fared better if they were the only part of it, rather than weaving in a plot much too complicated for the 75 minute running length. The talent of the cast is recognizable, and one hopes they find a better vehicle for their skills in their next production.