Darkstone and Co. add flair to magic at New Frontier

Joe Delaney

Friday, Nov. 9, 2001 | 9:41 a.m.

David Darkstone's "Illusions and Beyond," doing 2 and 9 p.m. performances at the New Frontier, returns to its former noon and 2 p.m. schedule on Nov. 20. Darkstone shares the nicely refurbished stage setting with comedy-juggler Will Roya and Darkstone's assistants Renee, Chris and Marshall for a fast-paced, 65-minute, quality presentation.

Both Darkstone and Roya are in their early 20s and make up for the usual requisite time-in-grade with natural talent and youthful enthusiasm. They are professionals who have put together a very entertaining, well-balanced offering that drew a large and appreciative audience at the show caught.

There was a video introduction using two screens flanking the stage, followed by an offstage introduction. A rectangular shadow box at center stage was shown by the comely Renee to be completely empty. Darkstone emerged to strong response and proceeded to select a lady from the audience.

The audience member furnished Darkstone with a ring that disappeared and later reappeared in a ring box and still later in a cloth bag. It was standard interactive magic well done.

Next came a story about the Japanese magician Shimada and the art of origami, or creative paper art, which led to a trick with an origami box folded into a very small section.

Renee was in the box, then obviously folded into the small section before being restored full-size. Again, standard fare performed with a nice flair. Darkstone closed this part of his performance with interactive hand magic and it was time for "Silly Will" Roya.

Roya began his turn with a spy spoof utilizing the assistants, then juggled balls that glowed on the completely darkened stage. He did unusual things with a disc and a cord with special lighting effects, worked with the usual rings in various numbers and lighted torches. He closed with ball manipulation, using a tiny ball that seemed to multiply between his fingers.

Darkstone and Roya had some comedy bits together that could be strengthened. Darkstone took over for the finale, Houdini's classic "Metamorphosis" with the added touch of four men from the audience onstage, checking every detail they occurred.

Darkstone and Roya are one of the best entertainment bargains on the Strip, a work in progress that is already there in some respects and constantly being improved.