After a day of worldwide computer meltdowns, I was ready for a little comedy and a lot of magic. Seven Wonders delivered and more.
A dapper Ryan Phillips stepped out in front of a moon-like orb of light in the storefront-turned-theater, and we were on our way to Abracadabra!
The sold-out audience was in for some magical theatrics, and even more, poignant tales of his magic upbringing and mentorship. The 27-year-old Phillips has been doing magic for the past 21 years, and coupled with his theatrical training, it is, well, magic.
He makes the classic three-cup trick new. He adds mind-bending card tricks and a spirited Rubik’s cube. This is an interactive show and the audience is asked to participate in multiple ways, drawn in by Phillips’ charm, and our innate curiosity. He made us want to believe in magic, and in this high-tech age that is even more of a wonder.
His enthusiasm for the tricks he must have done dozens of times was infectious. Like a true performer, it was as if he was doing his sleight of hands for the first time. Magic has always been his self-described “nerdy superpower,” and it is on full display here.
However, the blend of tricks, theatrics, story, and joy makes this show more than a magic show; this reviewer would argue that it’s the joy to be at work at something you love that’s on display here, and that in this high-pressure-what-do-you-do-for-a-living milieu we live in, especially in the DC area, is magic in itself.
“What I most like most about magic is that you practice it for so long to give someone else a moment of wonder,” he shared at one point in this delightful 60-minute program. Go for a moment of wonder—and receive seven of them.
Seven Wonders, as Ryan Phillips shares toward the end of this immersive experience, is “magic as an artform,” and this reviewer agrees.
Running Time: 60 minutes
Genre: Solo/Comedy
Dates and Times:
- July 20 at 4:00 PM
- July 21 at 2:05 PM
Venue: Laughter, 1150 Connecticut Avenue NW
Tickets: $15
More Info and Tickets: Seven Wonders
The complete 2024 Capital Fringe Festival schedule is online here.
