Riveting Illusion and Fun, ‘It’s Magic!’ for All Ages

Some of the most accomplished acts from the world of prestidigitation have gathered again this year at Glendale’s Alex Theatre for the annual “It’s Magic!” revue, an amazing and amusing package of family entertainment that’s compelling enough to engage the most restless child or leave the most illusion-resistant sophisticate agape.

Hosted by TV funnyman Harry Anderson, the succession of acts features a brilliant team from Japan, Fukai and Kamika, who pull off a boisterous and dazzling array of dexterity in a frenetically paced act that uses colorful scarves and umbrellas of varying sizes.

Low-key comedian Dana Daniels, assisted by his unflappable parrot, Luigi, is both hilarious with his ad-libs and accomplished with his sleight of hand. “You don’t see acts like this in Vegas--you have to go to Laughlin,” he quips.

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But the truth is a Vegas sheen would only serve to hamper the down-to-earth, simple appeal of his disarmingly entertaining performance.

The Huber Marionettes serve up captivating “solo” performances by a succession of puppets so convincing you no longer see the real virtuoso behind them--master puppeteer Phillip Huber--who manipulates a formidable tangle of strings in plain view of the audience. From a complicated trapeze act, to a violinist whose fingering is fascinating, to an uncanny Liza Minnelli marionette belting “City Lights,” the manipulations are nothing short of riveting.

Last-minute replacement Michael Grandinetti, a 22-year-old magician, holds his own admirably amid a stable of more experienced performers, offering well-executed levitation and fire tricks.

The second act mostly belonged to the slick showmanship of Rick Thomas, who, direct from Vegas, delivered part of his Tropicana Hotel act--a visual delight featuring white doves, white cockatoos, a white tiger and glamorous assistants amid the requisite boxes, blades, levitation tricks and wondrous transformations.

Anderson, assisted by his adolescent son Dashiell, provided comic relief between acts, his centerpiece being an escape competition pitting straitjacketed dad against roped-to-a-chair son to riotous results.

However, Anderson would do well to lose his offensive opening routine, an unfunny vaudeville sendup involving an amputee neck puppet.

That said, the rest is, er, pure magic.

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* “It’s Magic!,” the Alex Theatre, 216 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale. Saturday, 2 and 8 p.m.; Sunday, 2 and 6:30 p.m. $20-$30. Running time: 2 hours, 40 minutes.