Dynamo: A night of magic and illusion
25 May 2018
I have always been a big fan of street magic. So, in 2011 when magician Steven Frayne aka Dynamo first appeared on the scene, I was really curious to see just how good he was and how he compared to others who came before him.
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I couldn't wait to watch Dynamo: Magician Impossible and I remember a feeling of awe after watching only the first episode. But it wasn't just Dynamo's astonishing tricks and illusions that he performed on the streets of famous cities but also his relatable life story, especially the fact that he was bullied as a child, that I found inspiring.
Dynamo just continued to surprise me and mesmerised I would rewatch many of the episodes, not knowing that I would one day get to see him performing these astonishing tricks live, right in front of my very eyes.
Prepare to be amazed
There was magic in the air as I entered the Grand West Casino on Friday, 18 May 2018, where the show was about to take place that evening. I could see posters of Dynamo's floating body on the walls and memorabilia with his name on was being sold near the entrances. The excitement was building. It felt kind of surreal I thought as I passed an open door, getting a glimpse of the inside of the Grand West Arena that was bathed in a mysterious blue light.
We got to our entrance and were asked to switch our phones off as we entered the arena. Cellphones, cameras, and any recording devices were strictly prohibited. As we took our seats, quite high up in the stands, I could see the three big screens at the front with the word Dynamo in big bold letters sprawled across.
While we waited we could see plenty of people coming in with their phones switched on; taking selfies, checking Facebook. It was quite annoying, especially since a voice repeatedly announced that all cellphones had to be switched off over a loudspeaker. But as soon as the show commenced ushers came around to check that this was indeed so, and as everyone checked that their devices were switched off, I finally settled down in a relaxed position as we prepared to be amazed.
Subtle sleight of hand
The show started with an animated video playing on the big screens in front of us, taking us back to when Frayne was a teenager dreaming about magic until something happened that changed his life forever. We sat in anticipation, watching the video and people spontaneously started clapping and yelling when he finally appeared on stage.
From where I was sitting, he was just a tiny figure, standing in the middle of a huge stage wearing a red hoodie, like his animated version in the video. He announced that he was very happy to be in South Africa and especially since this was his first ever show in Cape Town.
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Immediately, he started off with some impressive card tricks as a warm-up and we followed on the big screen, as the camera zoomed in on his hands. Next, he did a couple of mind tricks that required the audience's participation. It was exciting to see how many people from the audience took part. Dynamo invited people of all ages to the stage several times throughout the night and amazed them and us with what he could predict and accomplish with just a subtle sleight of hand. Even Dynamo's nana, who is 90-odd years old, made an appearance and showed off with a card trick of her own.
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Bask in the magic
Following the short interval, more of the audience members went on stage to participate. Then there was an amazing reveal that left me stunned because it felt as if Dynamo really read my mind. After that experience, my eyes were glued to the stage, searching and trying to figure out how he was doing all these amazing things. The night was nearly over and Dynamo's last trick blew our minds when he performed his showstopping trademark illusion of levitation. Trust me, it did not disappoint!
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At the end of the show, we were asked to please not reveal anything to friends and family, so to not spoil the surprise and then he lovingly bid us farewell as if we were just a couple thousand of his closest friends. A satisfying sigh escaped me as we left the venue. This was a night I will never forget, I thought as I took my phone out of my bag. Looking at it, I decided to keep it switched off for the rest of the night and to instead just bask in the magic that surrounded us.
