“Mat Franco – Magic Reinvented” Is Charming But Forgettable
Mat Franco – Magic Reinvented Nightly is the newest entry in the ever-expanding roster of Vegas magic shows. Being the new kid on the block has its advantages, especially when veterans like David Copperfield frequently get accused of “going through the motions”.
Unfortunately for Franco, comparisons to greats like Copperfield and Burton (Lance, not Nathan) are unlikely to happen anytime soon. His new show, which premiered last Friday inside the newly-remodeled Linq Theater, has more in common with a 7-Eleven hot dog than those legends of illusion and magic. It looks yummy under the bright light, goes down easily, but is forgotten the moment that it’s finished.
Perhaps the production’s awkwardly-titled “Mat Franco – Magic Reinvented Nightly” is the problem here. It dares the audience to heighten their expectations…a dangerous thing to do in a city where Siegfried and Roy dominated the magic landscape for decades. But “Reinvented” could have easily been called “Recycled Magic”, especially with all the familiar bits that Franco brings to the stage (ironically, Franco replaces previous Linq headliner “Recycled Percussion” in the same time slot).
What makes “Magic Reinvented” so palatable is the charisma of its star. The 9th-season “America’s Got Talent” winner is quite handsome, and he radiates charm with a demeanor that’s engaging and contagious. He holds your attention with ease, all the better to distract you while his fast-moving hands do their work (Franco confesses onstage that distraction is at the core of his tricks). His two stage assistants (one guy, one gal) are pretty hot as well.
The Linq Theater’s sparsely-decorated stage could actually use a few more of those attention-grabbers, too. Large-scale illusionists like Jan Rouven and Nathan Burton fill their stages with dancers, moving sets, comedy vignettes and large props, but Mat Franco’s tools are a small table, a few chairs, decks of cards and tennis balls. And lots of talky chit-chat. The overall effect is underwhelming, especially for a performer who proclaims his love for Vegas glitz in several instances throughout the hour-plus running time.
Magic fans who are still undergoing therapy from the nightmarish dancing rabbits and Tesla coils of Criss Angel BeLIEve (version one) might be won over by the small-scale simplicity of Franco’s approach. Although I attended via a media invitation, watching intimate card tricks on a blown-up video screen inside a Vegas showroom feels like a bit of a cheat. The jumbotron that “Magic Reinvented Nightly” relies on so heavily seemed to hamper the deception instead of aiding it. A subtle but noticeable time lag between the projection and the onstage action was disconcerting.
Mat and his supporting cast at the Red Carpet premiere
Only one trick can be called a true failure. Franco, while seated in the center of the stage, seems to vanish from under a shroud and quickly reappears behind the audience. This worn-out trick can be seen in just about any other magic show in town.
Except in Franco’s version, the fake seatback that he uses to exit the stage was still wobbling back and forth in the spotlight for several seconds afterward, revealing the trickery. Ouch! The low-key closing moments of “Magic Reinvented Nightly” also echo Jan Rouven’s finale that I described in my VegasChatter review of “Jan Rouven – Illusions”.
If Mat Franco truly considers a Vegas residency as a dream come true, he’s going to need to bring a lot more flash to the table. As it stands now, “Magic Reinvented Nightly” is as effective as watching YouTube clips of his performances. And audiences have a right to expect more.
Mat Franco – Magic Reinvented Nightly performs seven nights a week at 7pm inside Linq Hotel (random dark nights – check calendar here). Tickets start at $46 plus taxes/fees, but we found valets giving out $20-off coupons at the Linq High Roller. If you’re going, I recommend shopping around for discounts.
A fitness buff and Vegas fan. Sam enjoys shows, bargains, and cheap healthy eats.
