“It was incredible,” says Mathieu at the end of The Illusionists show. The 46-year-old man is delighted with the “amazing” evening he has just experienced with his wife and two children. “It doesn’t stop, it’s very varied and very funny,” he says. On Wednesday February 21 at the Folies Bergère in Paris, the troupe held its first performance in France since 2017.
The Illusionists make a triumphant return to the French scene. As in 2017, it is the magician Gus who has the task of hosting the evening as master of ceremonies. Between two card tricks where the magician uses his art as a conjurer, he presents the different artists. Sometimes he transforms into a translator, notably during passages by Kevin James, aka The Inventor. The 61-year-old American is known in the world of magic for cutting up and putting back together a body on stage but also for having invented various tricks such as the floating rose trick, which he performed on stage with a child chosen from the audience. . Later in the evening, the magician also propelled several hundred snowflakes with his hands, this time to amaze around ten children on stage. The magician impresses both for his talent and his charisma.
In total, there are six putting on the show on stage: Kevin James, Xavier Mortimer, Léa Kyle, Florian Sainvet, Enzo Weyne and Gus. None overshadows another, they all excel in their own field. The transformist Léa Kyle, “Quick change” prodigy, impresses with her dozens of colorful outfits. To lively music, she changes outfits at lightning speed. The 28-year-old young woman was a finalist in 2021 on the America’s Got Talent program (the equivalent in the United States of La France à un incredible talent).
“I’m really happy to be able to present artists that I admire,” said Gus a few days before the show. He likes to compare his tricks to those of Kevin James or the elusive Enzo Wayne – the latter being able to levitate a person from the audience or make a helicopter appear on stage. “I do tours for 2.50 euros,” laughs Gus. But the illusionist refuses to let himself be overcome by imposter syndrome. “I’m not going to tell myself that I’m going to do worse than the others on stage, I’m not afraid to be in the middle of this incredible team,” he explains. His performance proves him right, as funny as he is skillful with the cards in hand, he brings a lightness to the show. “Americans have this culture of great spectacle. However, I will learn as much from an American as from a Frenchman.” Among the six artists, only Kevin James is foreign. The Illusionists proves that France has a rich pool of talent in the world of magic. The only downside for the public is that they often tend to move to the United States, particularly Las Vegas. However, “the French public is very fond of magic”, maintains the master of ceremonies of the evening. And the 1000 people present during this first evening at the Folies Bergère are proof of it. “They were hot from the start, it was bliss! We do everything to ensure they have the best time possible,” he adds.
The show The Illusionists is on show every evening until March 3 at the Folies Bergère.
