Move to Sahara a good one for Wyrick’s magical show

Joe Delaney

Friday, Sept. 22, 2000 | 8:48 a.m.

Steve Wyrick, voted Magician of the Year for 2000 by the International Magicians Society, has made a giant leap from the makeshift showroom at the Lady Luck to the reportedly $24 million made-to-order theater at the Sahara.

Another $6 million was spent on his enhanced presentation as Wyrick starts an eight-year contract.

The Sahara Theater's old airplane-hangar design fits the mood of the 90-minute mixture of larger-than-life illusions, close-up magic using a large screen and a number of segments utilizing audience members. It appears to be money well spent and a show that should be a worthy competitor of similar shows, a comparative bargain at the $34.95-plus-tax tab.

There was a well-produced, well-acted video opener followed by the appearance of a helicopter onstage from which Wyrick emerged. The first illusion had him dividing a comely assistant into a number of separate pieces. Dudley, a duck, appeared then disappeared and reappeared in a bucket held by a member of the audience.

Wyrick walked through a whirling 16-foot 747-turbine engine, then took a white and a black poodle and fused them into a Dalmatian. There were a number of class stage settings, one in which Wyrick appears in an antique elevator. There were also a number of tricks utilizing female assistants, which led into a close-up trick with two audience members.

He told the story of Sam, a bellhop, using a deck of cards and a large video screen -- an outstanding segment. There was a Blades of Death challenge, with Wyrick appearing suspended from a helicopter hovering over the audience, more audience participation and street magic, including the shell game. Then a throttling motorcycle disappeared 30 feet above the ground and reappeared with Wyrick in the center of the audience.

The closer again used the large screen as Wyrick again performed the first illusion of his career -- a nice way to go off. His presence is so much more effective at the Sahara. He has managed to do things differently and to mix the intimate bits nicely with the huge, bombastic illusionary accomplishments.

Will Wyrick's prove to be one Las Vegas magic show too many? He's come a long way. He deserves to make it all the way.