With magic touch, Adams rocks the Plaza

Friday, Nov. 4, 2005 | 8:19 a.m.

When: 7 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays.

Where: Plaza Showroom.

Rating (out of five stars): ****

Magic rocks.

At least it does at the Plaza, where young magician Curtis Adams has a rocking good time performing Tuesdays through Sundays.

Adams, fresh from an engagement at the Tropicana in Atlantic City, has a pleasing blend of magic, humor and choreography -- sort of David Copperfield meets Janet Jackson meets Carrot Top.

His takeoff on Steve Irwin ("The Crocodile Hunter") is hilarious.

His music (taped) is energizing.

His magic is exceptional, from taking a sledgehammer to a Lamborghini and refurbishing it, to making a sweater seem alive.

This is as much a party as a production. The show is called "Adrenaline: Magic That Rocks." And adrenaline flows like wine in this upbeat production.

Adams -- eschewing the tuxedos and other costumes favored by some magicians -- wears faded jeans and a T-shirt. His hair is unruly; his smile is infectious.

The 22-year-old quasi-rocker gets funky, he tangos, he pulls the audience into the show, refusing to allow anyone to be bored.

The show opens with Pink's "Get the Party Started," accompanied by flashing lights and falling confetti as Adams and two female assistants dance.

It ends an hour later with a floating rose created from tissue paper.

In between, Adams demonstrates the skills he has acquired since becoming a professional magician at age 10.

The show has the feel of a Copperfield production, possibly because Adams' creative director is Don Wayne, who created a number of illusions for Copperfield's TV specials, such as Copperfield appearing to make the Statue of Liberty disappear and seeming to walk through the Great Wall of China.

The stage in the Plaza's showroom is far too small for such dramatic tricks, but one day it would not be too surprising to find Adams in a larger venue somewhere on the Strip where his imagination can run wild and and he can rock around the clock.

Jerry Fink can be reached at 259-4058 or jerry@lasvegassun.com.