Magician Andi Gladwin Presents Shuffled at Chicago’s Rhapsody Theater

The two-year-old Rhapsody Theater’s unique, versatile space provided a wonderful backdrop for English Magician Andi Gladwin’s first-ever solo show, Shuffled. The already intimate, 200 seat theater was reconfigured for only 44 audience members in order to showcase Mr. Gladwin. The set felt like an homage to a game room, with cards, family pictures and games on display on shelves and bits of furniture. Gladwin’s unassuming air made it easy for audience members to feel like they were part of the magic, rather than simply viewers. What he created was a special, interactive experience, and a casual, welcoming atmosphere: much like a game night with friends or family might feel.

Gladwin has been performing magic since he was ten and specializes in card tricks. He is also the owner of Vanishing, Inc. Magic, a popular magic store used by magicians worldwide, and is the inventor of many magic tricks himself. He fooled Penn and Teller on their show, Fool Us, in 2016, with a trick he developed just for the show.

His first solo endeavor was interspersed with stories told by Gladwin, some personal, about his own history as a magician, or playing games with his son, and folktales like the classic, Stone Soup – which was a fitting theme: that of creating something bigger together, than any one individual can make on their own. Adding to the community feel, Gladwin had encouraged audience members to bring their own decks of cards, any decks of cards, to be used on the fly for his magic tricks. We were all in it together.

Gladwin is a master at his craft; his card tricks, sleight-of-hand mastery and “mind reading” skills were extraordinary, a testament to what the human mind can do, when practice, study, and ultimately skill, are exercised fully. He did several mind-reading tricks that were flabbergasting and tied all the tricks together multiple times to images, books and other paraphernalia strewn about the set, like a magical bow. As casual and impromptu as many of his tricks felt, those throw backs were a testament to the careful work and calculations he must have done before hand to make it all possible.

Gladwin’s ability to essentially do card tricks on the fly, with other people’s decks, was a joy to behold. Highlights included a trick with an audience member’s Pokemon Cards, and an extended trick with another guest’s Uno deck. There were also plenty of opportunities for humor and mis-steps, when was the last time you played Uno, after all? But Gladwin navigated every left turn and unexpected bump with good humor and unexpected magic.

Because nearly every trick involved audience participation, and even their cards, this night was unlike any other night before or since. One could probably go to every performance and see a different show. I had the special treat of a card trick just for me at the end of the night, with a deck the owner, Dr. Ricardo Rosenkranz, otherwise known as the Physician Magician, found behind the bar. In my short time in his and Gladwin’s company, I was not only delighted by Gladwin’s wonderful and quick skills with a deck of cards, but by his warm and easy-going manner.  The Rhapsody Theater, and the magicians and staff who work there, all love what they do and are eager to share that love with the audience, creating an inviting atmosphere that brings a smile to your face and a sense of wonder to your night. If you go, be sure to bring your cards, so you too, can be part of the magic.

Highly Recommend.

Reviewed by Alina C. Hevia

Presented at The Rhapsody Theater Chicago, 1328 W. Morse Avenue, for two weekends only, Friday, March 14 – Sunday, March 24.

Tickets for Andi Gladwin presents Shuffled, starting at $45.00, are now on sale, online at https://rhapsodytheater.com/ or at The Rhapsody Theater box office.

Additional information about this and other area productions can be found by visiting www.theatreinchicago.com.