Interview with Ricky Jay about his new show Rogue's Gallery

[Richard Kaufman]

Here:
http://www3.timeoutny.com/chicago/blog/ ... ricky-jay/

[Donal Chayce]

Thanks for the link. I'm very much looking forward to seeing the show here in LA in January.

[Travis]

On my way to the show now!

[Richard Kaufman]

Write a report here when you get back.

[Donal Chayce]

Will do. (I'll be seeing the Jan. 10 performance.)

[Mike Kamlet]

I saw the show in Chicago.

The Chicago Tribune posted this review

http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertain ... 497.column


SunTimes had this to say

http://www.suntimes.com/entertainment/w ... 03.article

To add to those reviews -- I really enjoyed the show (as did my wife). There weren't that many effects in the show (maybe half a dozen), but the stories and video clips were just as entertaining. It was interesting to see the clip from a TV movie called The Ranger, the Cook and a hole in the sky (also staring Jerry O'Connell).


Ricky's assistants were Michael Weber and Tim Felix, and the performance was dedicated to Jay Marshall.

[David Linsell]

Here's some more Chicago press on the show. . .

http://www.chicagoreader.com/TheBlog/ar ... and-wonder

http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertain ... =obnetwork

http://www.suntimes.com/entertainment/s ... 7.article#

I have to wait until Sat to see the show. . .

[mai-ling]

i'm trying to decide if its worth while to bring dad
down there since we haven't seen Ricky in quite a while.

he's fussy and it was hard enough trying to take him
to Magic Inc for a visit.

many people twittered about going on opening night.

[Travis]

Sorry for the delay on reporting. I saw the show on opening night in Chicago.
The reviews linked above will give you a general sense of the staging. It was was very simple; a small table and tall chair front of curtain, stage right and, once the curtain parted, a large screen onto which was projected 108 images from Ricky's collection of posters, photographs, playbills, etc.

Ricky used humorous and creative ways to extract numbers from audience members for choosing which images to speak about. Others he would select himself, as was necessary to lead into specific effects in the show. The effects were few. As mentioned above, perhaps a half-dozen. Of those, only three card tricks, as I recall.

I thoroughly enjoyed the program. Ricky's stories were funny and interesting. Several I was familiar with already from his own writings, but there were also personal stories, and hearing them told by Ricky in his inimitable style was extremely entertaining. One of my favorites being an anecdote about the late Maurice Fogel.

POTENTIAL SPOILER:

As mentioned by the Chicago Sun-Times reviewer, Ricky closed the first act with an engaging and wonderful tale that involved a collection of Audubon prints. This was, essentially, dressing for Ricky's version of what was, for all intents and purposes, the Coloring Book trick. And, as the reviewer said, it was breathtaking. There was a collective, audible gasp from the audience, and I gasped right along with them. He added a brilliant touch to the handling of this that made it a thing of absolute beauty.

The show closed with "The Knight's Tour". Ricky, however, performs it in concert with three other astounding feats of memory/calculation. Again, you can see a description in the reviews posted above. Suffice to say, it was highly entertaining,

While I agree with the Tribune reviewer that the video clips from Ricky's tv/movie appearances are better left out (a bit self-indulgent), I absolutely recommend the the show, if you have the opportunity.

I also had the wonderful pleasure of meeting John Bannon who was standing behind me in line, so that was a nice bonus.

Incidentally, I listened to the comments of those around me as I was leaving the theatre (as I often like to do after a magic performance). All were positive, that I heard, with the exception of (sigh) a magician. I don't know who he was, or if he was an amateur, professional, or whatever, but he was (and quite loudly) complaining to his date that "For $75 we get the f*cking coloring book?" Seems to me he missed the point.

[Richard Kaufman]

Both the Audubon routine and the Knight's Tour were part of "On the Stem."

From a dramatic point of view, the Audubon routine was the highlight of "On the Stem"--only a magician would be grumpy about it.

[Travis]

I totally agree, Richard. It was, for me, the highlight of this show, as well. It is the most vivid image I went away with.

[mai-ling]

go to ricky jay show.
or
go to magic inc's xmas party.
or
stay home in the warmth of the house.

hmmmm.....

i wish ricky was in town during a time
of year we don't have iffy weather.

[Gordon Meyer]

I saw the show earlier this week, and enjoyed it. But I do have to add that "the coloring book" was easily the most memorable magic presented. (And by far the easiest to see; Ricky Jay can indeed pull off card tricks in a large theatre, but this trick was stunning in its handling and presentation.)

[Roger M.]

Can somebody generally describe how the Audubon routine plays?

It sounds like it's magical in the extreme, but for those of us who live nowhere near where RJ tends to put on his shows, it's difficult to imagine what the routine actually looks like.

[Richard Kaufman]

The Audubon piece is superbly written and perfectly delivered. It is all about the presentation--it's a dramatic piece, not really a trick, even though there is an effect in it.

[Magic Newswire]

Sun Times columnist Roger Ebert recently attended the show and offer's his opinion on "Rogue's Gallery." He also shares a moment that took place backstage after the show in which Ricky mention having a previous identity. Hmmm...

Read More

[Jonathan Townsend]

Interesting article thanks Dodd. Any more kats out of bags this holiday season of pot ash and gingerbread?

[Richard Kaufman]

It's always funny to hear a layman write about magic. Roger's a smart cookie, but his Rube-Goldberg solution reminded me of something out of that silly Dunninger Encyclopedia of Magic. You would think that he would understand more about how the effect in magic is so much like editing in a film.

[Necromancer]

I'm particularly disappointed that this isn't a review. Ebert squanders his energy trying to demystify a trick rather than involve the reader in a considered examination of the show's artistry.

For a reviewer of Ebert's caliber and following, this is a real shame.

Best,
Neil

[Richard Kaufman]

It's not a review: Ebert is the film, not the theater critic. It's just an essay.

[Magic Newswire]

Here's another article on Ricky and the film Magnolia:

Here or Here