'Masters of Illusion Live!' coming to Sovereign Performing Arts Center

Courtesy of Masters of Illusion Live! Illusionist Rick Thomas, who will perform tonight at Masters of Illusion Live! at the Sovereign Performing Arts Center, says the smartest people watching a magic show are children, because they think in simplicity.

Magician Rick Thomas may make his living by convincing audiences they're seeing something they're not - but he isn't out to fool anyone.

"I'm not there to fool you," he insisted during a phone interview last week. "I'm there to experience the moment with you."

Which may strike some as a technical distinction.

But perhaps that's appropriate for the magician, a verbal sleight-of-hand of a kind with the illusions he'll be performing during his show tonight at 7:30 at the Sovereign Performing Arts Center.

Thomas is one of four magicians performing tonight during a stop on the "Masters of Illusion Live!" tour.

Based on a televised magicians' showcase that aired throughout the 2000s, the "Masters of Illusion" tour features a rotating cast of magicians as it makes its way around the country.

Also on the bill for tonight's performance are Farrell Dillon, Michael Giles and Angela Nicole.

But perhaps just as notable are the performers who won't be at tonight's show: Thomas' tigers.

As anyone who has seen the magician perform during his 15 years as a Las Vegas headliner or on his own TV specials will know, tigers have been a signature part of Thomas' act for decades.

But just a few weeks ago, Thomas retired those tigers to a preserve in Arizona, a move he said was motivated by a desire to practice what he preaches.

Thomas - who said he has raised 15 tigers from birth - explained that he had long used his stage show as an opportunity to talk about tiger conservation.

"I personally decided it was in the best interest for myself and my tigers that I listen to my own words," he said.

He added, "The show will not be any less of a grand show without them."

And Thomas is confident in his ability to present a grand show: He's been working to perfect his act for decades, ever since a televised magic show enthralled him as a 7-year-old boy.

He began performing at 13, and at 18 secured a gig at Disneyland, where he performed for two years.

He's done the usual cruise ship and convention circuits, and spent several years in Asia before returning to the United States - Las Vegas, in particular - where he spent 15 years starring in his own casino show at different venues.

Thomas said that after more than a decade in Vegas, he's excited to be back on the road.

"This has brought great new life back to my show," he said.

A father himself, Thomas is especially excited to be performing at family-friendly venues.

Even though his act has always been child-friendly, in Las Vegas parents were hesitant to bring children, he said.

And if you want to figure out the tricks behind the illusions, a child is who you want with you: Thomas said they have a knack for figuring out how illusions are performed.

"Magic is an amazing art form, but it's very simple," he said. "Children think in simplicity, but adults, because of their education, think (in) complexity.

"The smartest people watching a magic show are children."

Like any magician, Thomas won't reveal his tricks, or even confirm when someone else has correctly guessed them - but he gets a kick out of watching people try.

And while he takes pride in his illusions, he said he also just loves putting on a show - hence his earlier assertion about not wanting to "fool" anybody.

"I love entertainment, beyond my magic," he said. "I love watching live theater. It overwhelms me that I'm part of this industry. I hope that as (audiences) come to the show, they truly leave their burdens behind and enjoy the magic."

E-mail Elizabeth Giorgi: weekend@readingeagle.com.

Source: http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=447401

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