“Jamie Allan’s Amaze” definitely lives up to its name. Playing at New World Stages on W 50th Street, it is an immersive magic show where Allan shares so much: his love for magic since the tender age of 8, his parents’ support of his passion, and his journey that brought him to be the international magician he is today. His story demonstrates how the universe can make things align in one’s life in ways you can hardly believe. His story is one of connection with his passion, with his mentor, and with magicians who have influenced him in a powerful way, though they have never met.
As the audience hears Allan’s story, we also see marvelous magic, oftentimes participating in the magic moments on stage. Allan lets you not only see that he is the real article in terms of his knowledge of magic and how tricks are done, but he goes as far as to explain a trick or two. Of course, watching his feats of magic is captivating, but what also happens during this show is that your heart is touched as he shares photos of himself as a youth and his parents, who were both in the entertainment industry and consistently encouraged their son’s love of magic. In this delightful show, Allan shares information about the famous magicians he has admired. He allows the audience to reconnect with the child in us all. When he has audience members participate, he does so very randomly and with both adults and children, demonstrating that he does not have planted people in the audience.
There are some moments in the show in which Allan has the audience participate, and the results of the magic are baffling but amazing. You are left scratching your head, trying to figure out, ‘how did that just happen?’ Then thinking, “Cool.”
Although Allan is giving a masterful class on magic, he is also sharing his passion in such a generous way. His show is very inspiring. He is not only a magnetic magician, but a very down-to-earth person. He shares his sadness at the death of his parents and his having to clear out their residence. It is wonderful to hear and see that he held onto so many toys, his first magic kit from his youth, and his joy for magic has only increased over the years.
Allan is assisted on stage by artist Natalia Love. The production is directed by Jonathan Goodwin, has illusion direction by Richard Young, and set design by Damien Stanton. This show is recommended for the young and young at heart. It is for the dreamer in all of us. For tickets, go to https://amazemagic.com.