Dirk Arthur's Wild Magic

There are two kinds of audience in Las Vegas; those whom consider the locked box, strait-jacket escapology style of magic defunct, and those who are open to new interpretations. Dirk Arthur's exotic “Wild Magic”, now housed within the intimate 99-capacity theater at O'Shea's Hotel is exactly that – a new interpretation of old tricks. Well, some are relatively unique to Arthur – it's not many a magician whom can boast an accompanying cast of adult tigers!

Like many Las Vegas magicians, Dirk Arthur is most renowned for his stint upon NBC's “World's Greatest Magic” specials, which acted as a spring-board for his own Animal Planet show entitled “Big Cat Magic”. Growing up in San Fernando Valley, Arthur's playful attempts at magic tricks soon realized a huge ambition, motivated by his proximity in location to the Magic Castle – America's foremost academy, and premier club for road-tested magicians. His fascination with big cats is something that fueled his passion for illusion from an early age, and the motivation to “do it different” to other magicians of his time.

Dirk Arthur's downsizing to the 99-seater at O'Shea's may come as a surprise to those who've 'been there, seen him'. He formally headed up the eccentric variety of acts at The Tropicana Hotel Resort, and was a mainstay for over five years. His move in 2009 to the cozy confines of O'Shea's came amid a deluge of media speculation, that the Tropicana was experiencing major financial issues. They later filed for bankruptcy mid-2009, although a saving grace in the form of former Mirage president quickly came to the rescue. At the time, Dirk Arthur's decision to downsize seemed wise given the circumstances, but seems to have swung in his favor long-term. Many audiences concur the casual layout of tables and chairs at the new venue, allows for a far greater up-close-and-personal experience!

Arthur isn't one for sleight of hand. In his line of work, the wackier and bigger the illusion, the more enthralled his audiences will be. So you can expect nothing less of the O'Shea's show. It might be a small venue, but Dirk Arthur certainly packs a production that defies the tired generic. The show opens with a troupe of exotic dancers cavorting around the stage, and courting the eye of the audience as they motion to transport a huge empty cage into it's center. Amid the troupe, a surprisingly smiley Dirk Arthur appears (surprising since most magicians of his caliber take solemness to ridiculous extremes) and after some flamboyant hand motions, orders for the cage to be covered. Okay, so you might be able to predict what happens next, but the conjuring of a 600 lb Snow Leopard into a cage is by no means an easy task – especially when Arthur confirms there are no trapdoors beneath this baby!

The classic sword-boxes and realignment tanks are sure-fire aspects of the show you'll have doubtless seen before, yet amid the “done” stuff, emerges an array of illusions that are cleverly woven in as unexpected twists. Take the straight jacket tank trick – you think this guy will simply escape within an allotted time, and reappear somewhere behind you? Then you're in for a surprise when he's led up the aisle (just feet from you) by his 1000 lb pet liger (a lion-tiger hybrid, alleged to be extremely rare.) Secondary, to the animal spectacle is pyrotechnics, a practice that Arthur has been refining for over twenty years, and incorporates within both his stage and television shows. The “Chrome Basket” is one of the highlights, in effect a lidded cauldron which Arthur pierces with lit spears. Flames lick high from the meter square container, yet with a flourish, the flames are gone – replaced with a mischievously playful Snow White Leopard. Arthur proceeds to parade him around the stage like a puppy, at times just mere inches from your knees - should you be sat in the front row.

The 2011 leg of Arthur's O'Shea's residency got off to a cracking start, with the implementation of a 9pm nightly show, in addition to his matinée performances. Loved for his kid-friendly entertainment, the new show marks an attempt by Dirk and his management to see if “Wild Magic” can once again cut it with the big boys. What sets Dirk apart from Rick Thomas, and the legendary German-American duo Siegfried and Roy? Audiences have never been allowed this close to the action! Such is the proximity of seating to the O'Shea's theater stage, that you'll experience more than a whiff of tiger breath!