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“MADA vs VEGAS – The Dueling Magicians”
presented by Magic Extraordinaire & Mada Productions
Adam Mada and Richard Vegas
Australia’s most sophisticated, provocative and compelling magicians go head to head.
“MADA vs VEGAS – The Dueling Magicians” sets the stage alight with scenes of infernal magic and cabaret noir. Reveling in illusion and deception, these magicians cheat, swindle, conjure and confront each other in an attempt to endlessly foil their nemesis.
Which of these two magicians will come out on top, in an hour long improvised dogfight of illusions, tricks of the mind, vanishes, manifestations and truly dangerous games of one-upmanship?!
Recently completed a sell out season at the Adelaide Fringe Festival 2010 :
“A highly entertaining show that had the crowd riveted!”
 – Amy Noonan, Adelaide Advertiser
“ …a fast moving and slick performance that is simply great entertainment. Final Word: Magical! ”
– Michael Coghlan, Rip It Up
“ …This is great magic and great theatre. You’ll see astonishing, well-performed illusions, but you’ll also enjoy a tip of the hat to the age that birthed modern magic”
– Daniel G. Taylor, Stage Whispers
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REVIEW: Mada Vs Vegas – The Dueling Magicians
Starring Adam Mada, Richard Vegas, Julia Madotti. The Bakehouse Theatre, Adelaide Fringe Festival
Any magician who can do a French drop can put on the kind of show that’s about bigger, more startling, more astonishing tricks – but it takes a class act to do something more interesting.
In Mada vs Vegas, the story is Adam Mada and Richard Vegas were once partners but are now arch-rivals or arch-nemesises (it depends which you ask). With first-class gentlemanly showmanship, they fight it out with diverse illusions – locked-box mind reading, razor blades, Magician’s Russian Roulette – to see who will come out on top.
Vaudevillian Julia Madotti – first on stage, and filling the transitions, with her unexpected cascade of surprises – establish we’ve been transported to the early 20th Century: magic’s Golden Age. All the other elements of the show from the duel concept itself, to the costumes, the way Mada and Vegas speak, the powerfully dramatic score, and the black and white film clips of Houdini and his contemporaries support the illusion that when you stepped into the theatre, you stepped into the past.
This is great magic and great theatre. You’ll see astonishing, well-performed illusions, but you’ll also enjoy a tip of the hat to the age that birthed modern magic.
- Daniel G. Taylor
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POST YOUR MEMORIES OF THE SHOW BELOW
I was going to wait for someone else to review this show, but since no-one has, I’ll add my thoughts.
Right from the start of the show, you could tell these guys meant business. Theatrically, this show was stunning. Lighting, sound, and direction were all spot on – probably the greatest illusion was making me forget I was even in a town hall!
As far as the effects go, I liked them a lot. Both Mada and Vegas are exceptional showmen, which showed through each and every effect. Razor blade swallowing, impossible predictions and more!
The “duelling magicians” theme could have been done badly, but these guys did it right (thank goodness). I am not easily impressed, but these guys did it (with apparent ease).
I can’t recommend this show highly enough. Let’s hope they come back to Melbourne for next years festival.
5 stars.