Performers take their magic a step beyond imagination

We have all heard of magic performed by the likes of David Blaine or David Copperfield; but hailing from the New York region, there is a trio of magicians that are pushing boundaries with their up close and intimate show, “Magic Beyond Imagination.”

This performance, which is touring now, is bending the rules a bit and making believers out of the most staunch of skeptics.

Comprised of Garrett Thomas, who has served as a personal consultant and instructor to world class magicians; and Kozmo, a Tioga County, N.Y. resident who developed his talent by working as a street magician for much of his life; and then magician and musician Joe Maxwell, who might be better known for his performances with various acts on Saturday Night Life, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, and even the Today Show; “Magic Beyond Imagination” not only entertains with audience interaction, a touch of humor and even darkness, but it also offers guests an experience that they surely will not forget.

Throughout the years we have witnessed thought defying magic to include cabinet escapes and dismemberment, to laser illusions, like that performed by David Copperfield. 

“Magic Beyond Imagination” gives an initial offering of the traditional, such as pick a card, where did the coin go, and what’s in the hat; and then digs into a skill set that deceives the human mind and eye as the magicians performing take these practical effects to a much higher level.

One example of this is the last leg of Garrett Thomas’ performance at the Cortland Repertory Theatre on Saturday, March 10. 

Utilizing two participants from the audience, Pat and James O’Bryan, Garrett was able to exchange physical functions and feelings between this father and son duo. Calling the pair on stage, they had no idea, ahead of time, what was going to happen.

Prior to performing this never-before-seen act, Garrett continued to describe his role in magic, stating, “I’m not much different than you; my world is just a little weirder.”

First entering their thoughts and their minds, Garrett started slowly with finger movements; James, the son, was closing his fingers, and Pat’s fingers were doing the same; neither was aware of what was going on.

Then with a swift and light brush, like that felt during an Alien Invasion experience at Universal Studios, Garrett was able to brush a feather on the son’s nose, with the father feeling the same sensation at the same time.

We talked to Pat, the father, after the performance and he said he was stunned by this illusion.

“I was looking to see if there was something hanging down,” said Pat, adding, “I absolutely felt something.”

A former skeptic now, Pat added, “I’m in accounting… logic is my thing. I can’t figure this thing out.”

During Kozmo’s performance, he turned Lou Scafuri into a believer of Magic as well. Scafuri was visiting from New Jersey, and decided to take in the show.

When the host for the evening’s show, Joe Maxwell, welcomed guests, he boldly announced, “You will never forget this experience for the rest of your life.”

For Scafuri, this will most likely be the case as watched his twenty dollar bill diminish, denomination-wise, and then eventually end up being in the center of a lemon. 

As a volunteer, Scafuri readily offered up the twenty for the effect, and signed it too, but was unaware of the chain of events that were unfolding.

Kozmo first placed the twenty in one of three envelopes that were eventually run through a shredder. Thought of as gone forever, guests were astounded when a fresh lemon was cut open on stage; the signed twenty-dollar bill folded neatly within.

Scafuri and guests, after the performance, fulfilled their curiosities by taking a whiff of the twenty following its extraction from the lemon.

But for what should be referred to as the “grand illusion,” was Garrett’s mastery of the Rubik’s Cube, a 3D combination puzzle, and with this illusion being part of his signature in the world of magic.

Explaining pages of algorithms and theories worked on by Garrett over the years, he has been able to master solving the cube’s puzzle in record time, and with his eyes closed.

“I had a lot of time on my hands,” said Garrett as he showed the audience the vast algorithms sketched in an old-style ruled notebook, adding, just prior to pulling another volunteer from the audience, that, “Anyone can do it.”

The young man pulled as a volunteer for this illusion appeared eager to participate.

Garrett offered the volunteer a smaller Rubik’s Cube and had him place it behind his back. Garrett then explained that a Rubik’s Cube could be solved in 20 to 21 turns.

He then instructed the young volunteer to give it a try, behind his own back, and to turn it at least that many times. When the boy was done, he revealed the cube and had the skeptics’ smiling – the cube was not solved.

But that wasn’t the point, to the demise of the skeptic, the boy’s cube ended up being an exact match to the cube used by Garrett in relation to block color and scattered placement of the same around the cube.

Once again, the skeptics became believers, as the imagination was tricked at a higher level.

And although the magicians will explain their magic, they rarely divulge a trick. But this was not the case on Saturday, March 10 at the Repertory Theatre in Cortland. 

Joe Maxwell, host, revealed the secrets of a trick to get even with a relative that annoyed him with their skepticism. At least that is what he told the sold-out audience.

For this illusion, Maxwell shoved a red handkerchief into his closed fist, poking it in with one finger. When the handkerchief was completely out of sight, Maxwell opened his clenched fist and an egg appeared.

With the sold out crowd at the theatre muttering their dismay, Maxwell proceeded to pull the red handkerchief out of his right pocket. Illusion you might say, a dubbing of magic, and an explanation by Maxwell to the younger crowd that sat in astonishment, most likely considering magic as a hobby or career.

 “You see the egg has a hole in it,” said Maxwell, who showed the audience the egg and then explained that he was able to use his finger to push in the handkerchief, and that the handkerchief in his right pocket was a double.

The crowd now understood, or felt they could comprehend this technique – until Maxwell cracked open the egg and the yolk was revealed. 

In summary, you won’t find any traditional tricks up the sleeves of these seasoned magicians, as they are always guaranteed to take their effects beyond the levels of the imagination. 

The show, held at the Cortland Repertory Theatre Downtown, was held on both Friday, March 9 and Saturday, March 10, and was produced by Artistic Director Kerby Thompson, managed by Barclay Diamond, and produced and managed by Eric Behnke. 

To learn more about “Magic Beyond Imagination,” find them on Facebook at “Beyond Imagination Entertainment.”