Charisma the key to Thomas’ magic

Joe Delaney

Friday, Sept. 17, 1999 | 9:36 a.m.

"The Illusionary Magic of Rick Thomas," playing Saturdays through Thursdays at 2 and 4 p.m. in the Tropicana's Tiffany Theatre, is a quality offering at bargain prices, $15.95 and $20.95.

Thomas is a personable, articulate, multitalented practitioner of the illusionary arts, who works with his most attractive assistant, Grace, and a trim trio of excellent dancers.

Thomas shared the stage as well with Samson and Kyra, two white tigers. "There are actually 100, but Siegfried & Roy own the other 98," he quips. A tiger cub, Morpheus, is an added starter, a scene stealer. Buddy and Frenchy, two cockatoos, are stalwart contributors, and there seemed to be an endless supply of doves materializing after Thomas made his grand entrance.

In his formative years Thomas mastered the trombone and excelled at ballroom dancing, but it was magic that took over the number one spot in his life at age 13. The bird act was his first major accomplishment as he was growing up. Buddy the cockatoo did do two quick funny impressions, an eagle and a bat.

His assistant appeared, disappeared and reappeared in "Osmosis," the second segment. A child was selected from the audience and was used to direct an experiment in levitation. The little one earned show honors here. It was time for the tigers, after which Grace went out into the audience to select a young man who assisted Thomas to escape rapidly falling spikes.

"The Twister" was a swing number that gave Thomas and Grace an opportunity to show their terpsichorean abilities. Next came what was billed as "The Watch Miracle," which involved a couple from Italy whose expensive watch suffered what seemed to be several disasters before being found in a sealed box that had been sitting on a ringside table. Strong stuff.

"The Slicer" had Grace in a box that was separated into a number of small cubicles and then reassembled. At this point Thomas talked a little more about growing up and the guidance of his mother and then introduced the standard rings that are separated, apparently joined together and then separated again. Old stuff but so nicely set up as his mother's favorite that it worked wonderfully at this late stage in the show.

"Holographic Reality" was more standard fare, a triumph of personality and presentation over content. The "Mardi Gras" finale utilized the full cast, resulting in a standing ovation from the goodly assemblage.

Rick Thomas' crowd counts are worthy of a successful evening show, consistently heavy, both performances. The price is a positive factor when you consider the tab for Siegfried & Roy, David Copperfield, Lance Burton and other headliners. The secret of "The Illusionary Magic of Rick Thomas" is not the difficult illusions, it is Thomas' warmth and manner of presentation.

This is a show within reach of all show-goers' pocketbooks, and will keep them interested, occasionally amused and always entertained.