‘Soul of Magic’ is an entertainment bargain at New Frontier

Joe Delaney

Friday, June 28, 2002 | 9:25 a.m.

"Soul of Magic," starring Victor and Diamond, with special guest star comedy/magician Ray Shank, is being performed at 2 p.m. Saturdays through Thursdays (dark on Fridays) at the New Frontier.

This is not your average magic show. It is a smooth, hour-plus presentation, deftly combining comedy and magic, with well-selected jazz overtones.

After introductory remarks, Victor appears, assisted by Diamond, who is a magician in her own right and his wife in real life. They perform prestidigitation -- hand magic involving doves, and endless varied-colored scarves and rabbits. In good voice, Victor sang "I'm Just a Baby in this Business of Love," ventured into the audience and performed a card trick with a little girl selected randomly.

Diamond made the free-floating silver ball a sensuous experience with a background vocal on "Gee, Baby, Ain't I Good To You?" Victor returned with a multibox trick, and more business with a rabbit, which was good stuff. Then he introduced Shank, a magician with impeccable comedy timing. Shank gave an empty bucket to a man in the audience, then had a duck disappear onstage and reappear in the bucket.

Shank's versatility included a creditable rendition of the classic, "Malaguena" on the guitar, including comedic interpolations. Victor returned with Diamond for the Houdini classic Metamorphosis, performed atop a locked safe. There was a rope escape trick using a man from the audience, a variation on Metamorphosis, with the man part of the transformation.

Victor turned a drawing of a bowling ball into the real thing, performed a Matrix illusion using a large box and a lit light bulb. Acknowledgements, introductions and "thank you's" by Victor led to the snow-illusion closer. Shank, also noted as a creator of illusions, was credited for the Matrix and Snow closer. A goodly crowd departed, well-pleased.

With a $14.95 plus tax tab, which includes two free beverages plus free admission for children ages 5 and under, you'll be hard-pressed to find a more enjoyable, less-expensive entertainment package anywhere.