The most magical time of the year just got a little more magical with the arrival of The Illusionists – Magic of the Holidays at the Marriott Marquis Theatre. Returning to Broadway, the new installment from the roving band of titular performers finds a few new faces on the Great White Way, including Darcy Oake.
Oake has made a name for himself internationally, touring Canada and appearing on Britain’s Got Talent, in addition to performing for the Royal Family at a private dinner. Now he’s billed as The Grand Illusionist for the five-week engagement, alongside The Sorceress Chloé Crawford, The Deductionist Colin Cloud, The Manipulator Shin Lim, and The Futurist Adam Trent.
Oake has been performing as one of The Illusionists for just over five years, and says a stream of new people in and out of the show keeps it fresh. In addition to a behind-the-scenes opportunity to brainstorm and bounce ideas off one another, it also adds up to a more interesting show, both on and offstage. “Everybody has the bits that they’re known for, and the producers try to structure the show in a way to keep the pace of the show and the rhythm,” Oake says. “And there are a few moments where everyone’s involved, so it’s not, ‘And here’s the next guy!’”
And while some of Oake’s grand illusions have been seen before—after all, who wants to try out untested material in front of New York City audiences?—the overall packaging will be different, with some holiday-themed moments as well. Just don’t expect sugar plums to magically dance across the stage.
Mostly, Oake is just excited to share his talents with a Broadway audience, and also that magic has suddenly come around to being cool again.
“You can go on Google and find out anything immediately,” Oake says, “so to have an experience that you can’t explain, that really connects with people. I think it’s come full circle and it’s back to being cool again. Which is why when I’m asked, ‘Do you prefer magician or illusionist?’ At one point I would say, ‘Illusionist, for sure,’ but now I don’t care. I’m taking ‘magician’ back again!”
The Illusionists - Magic of the Holidays plays Broadway’s Marquis Theatre (210 W 46th Street between Seventh and Eighth Avenues) in a limited engagement run through December 30, 2018.
