Night Clubs Reviews

Jun 29, 2007 - Paul Reder's "TV's Magic Stars" is a great show for families and everyone else

By Jack Neal

In an age when parents find it nearly impossible to find suitable entertainment for their children - live stage shows, in movies, or on TV, it's refreshing to find a producer whose shows are especially designed for the family that single adults can enjoy as well. Like a comic-book super hero, it's producer Paul Reder to the rescue. His delightful show, "TV's Magic Stars," is the perfect show for kids and adults alike and it's at beautiful Lake Tahoe (Stateline, Nevada) in the Horizon Casino and Resort's Golden Cabaret Theater.

The show's title comes from Reder's snaring his four stars of magic deep in the heart of TV land. The connection between each magician and the stage show about to unfold, plays out in a series of television clips that introduces Reder's marvelous collection of exceptional illusionists.

Then it's on to that old black magic that isn't so old after all. Some of it is old, of course, but new or old the show is designed to keep viewers in its spell. It's a delightful excursion into illusion that's mostly new and freshly minted.

"TV's Magic Stars" is hosted by the show's dean of magic, Jonathan Neal Brown. Brown uses pop tunes (mostly Sinatra) and jazz to underscore his flawless sleight-of-hand maneuvers of brass rings, bound hands and lots of gentle humor. Joel Ward is the youngest of the troupe, which isn't in any case old at all. He does lots of close-up magic requiring audience participation. It's the interaction between magicians and audience that makes "TV's Magic Stars" so ingratiating. It also keeps the show on its toes.

Danny Cole brings the most innovative magic to the show. His quick-change illusions before the eyes - a suit color change, a tie color change, a shirt color change - defies reality. Cole's contributions are nothing less than sensational. Christopher Hart is the deadpan magician whose shtick is intentionally botched gags and absurdist humor along with dazzingly brought off, reason-defying magic.

Reder has glued together these four major magic talents into a fun-filled 70 minutes of entertainment that seamlessly bridges generations. There's not a suggestive moment in anything that happens, which more than suggests that quality entertainment is built on talent that's at the top of its game and humor that's squeaky clean and genuinely funny.

"TV's Magic Stars" is such a show. It's a terrific little show that shouldn't be missed.

"TV's Magic Stars" can be seen in the Golden Cabaret Theater at the Horizon Casino Resort, Stateline, Nevada, 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 3 and 7:30 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $24.95 ($19.95 for children 12 and under). For the Sunday matinee one free children's ticket is provided with the purchase of an adult ticket. For information go online at horizoncasino,com, or tvsmagicstars.com, or call 775-588-6211.