George Andrew Fotheringham

This January, the highly acclaimed and jaw dropping magic experience The Illusionists: Live from Broadway is performing at Worcester’s own Hanover Theatre. This isn’t your run of the mill rabbit in a hat magical act as an expert blend of comedy, technology, and trickery will put your birthday party’s magician to shame. The show features a collection of some of the bests illusionists in the world who will be performing for two action packed hours. The Illusionists is perfect for all ages and features several opportunities for audience participation. Expect each performer to bring their own brand of entertainment to the act, and plan your bathroom breaks accordingly because you won’t want to miss a minute! Darren Partridge, aka Dizzy, will be among the stacked cast of electrifying performers set to bewilder minds of all ages. Dizzy has been killing audiences with comedy for over a decade with his unique personality. “My wild combination of magic, physical comedy, and theatrical thievery, delivered with my mischievous British charm, often leaves audiences both spellbound and gasping for breath.” Dizzy stated, “I truly enjoy making people laugh.” Originally hailing from Coventry, England and not introduced to magic until the late age of 18 a young Dizzy had no idea how he would be lighting up crowds today. Now his expertly honed skills and talent make Dizzy’s performance a delight for anyone to see. “I am sometimes asked if I always wanted to be a magician and to be honest, the short answer is no – but I always followed my interests,” Dizzy said. Dizzy’s interests led him “across the pond” in 2005 to perform with a medley of fantastic Cirque and Magic productions in the United States before joining The Illusionists in 2017. With his current group, Dizzy is enjoying the opportunity to work and grow with fellow talented magicians. “I honestly sit side of the stage watching every performance and how each performer changes their routine to cater for each audience,” Dizzy said, “It is a true delight, seeing these entertainers in action!” With such explosive talent that even fellow magicians are amazed with, it would be hard to find reasons to miss out on the show. It truly is a testament to the group that even with such impressive acts performing alongside each other it remains a fun experience for each illusionist. No wonder the show has continued to ramp up and reach the global significance that it has today. Even with amazing cast members no live show would be what it was without the energy of an audience. Especially in a show full of bewildering tricks the audience’s amazement at an act can be palpable. For Dizzy especially, when combining humor and spectacle, the crowd reactions are just as important to his act. “I feed off everyone. So, what energy I receive, guides me to how much energy to give back, or how far I can go with each comedy element. It determines the pace and beats of my acts which vary for each crowd,” Dizzy said. It takes a propensity for performance to be able to feel and respond to audience reactions mid performance in the way that Dizzy can. Out of anything it sounds like interacting with the audience brings most of the magic to Dizzy’s show. Although he says that he could perform his act without speaking a word it would lose too much of its personality. “Just so the audience gets to know me a little more personally”, Dizzy said, “and it is fun to improvise with each situation thrown at me.” Expect some Coventry charm mixed in with the several other mind-bending magicians at one of this month’s most exciting shows. The Illusionists have performed across the globe for countless audiences and continue to fill seats and earn glowing reviews. A changing cast keeps things fresh and a constant drive for improvement means that even if you have already witnessed the spectacle, you’ll still find yourself amazed. Expect seats to sell out quickly so don’t wait to purchase your own. The Illusionists: Live from Broadway will be performing January 30th and 31st. Tickets range in price from $40-$70 at thehanovertheater. org while seats last