Reviewing Cyril Takayama's Stage Show: Believe

Over the past several months Cyril Takayama has gone from near obscurity, to internet viral video superstar, to The Magic Castle's magician of the year. While most fans of magic have seen a smattering of Cyril's tricks on various internet video sights, very few have had the chance to see the man perform in the flesh. So it is with these fans in mind that I present a review of Cyril's stage show "Believe" which recently visited my new hometown: Kobe, Japan.

The Show

The performance was broken up into two acts, and within those acts were a relatively even mix of big stage illusions, close up tricks (with the help of a video screen), light filler tricks, and dance numbers. The show flowed both rapidly and smoothly, and the audience's attention was constantly being directed and redirected to all but eliminate dead time.

In one instance Cyril finished a large stage illusion, and a cameraman filmed him as he climbed up a ladder and the curtains closed. The audience watched him perform a couple light filler tricks perched on top of the ladder as the stage around him was being readied for the next trick. When the stage was ready the curtains opened, he climbed down from the ladder, and began the next big stage illusion. At other points in the performance four dancers did short routines as Cyril was off stage preparing for his next appearance.

Even the intermission was entertaining as people swarmed around a woman who had gotten to keep a prop from a trick on stage, and one of Cyril's crew conspicuously hung a large yellow box from the ceiling and told the audience "Magic Yellow Box desu" (this is the Magic Yellow Box).

Throughout the show lighting and music were used heighten the tension and draw the audience more intimately into the performance. There was also a limited use of fire and pyrotechnics to put an exclamation point on some the flashier illusions.

The Tricks

"Believe" featured many of the viral video illusions that gained Cyril popularity over the past year, as well as a handful of tricks that I was unable to find anywhere on the net. Cyril opened with his well known Card Through Glass illusion, and some of his other larger stage illusions were: Signed Card into Wine Bottle, and an illusion where he went from being tied up on stage to appearing with a flash in the midst of the audience. There was also a fairly long mentalist type routine where a woman was called on stage, and after she described what the perfect date with Cyril would be like a chalkboard with her answers written on it was revealed.

In the realm of Close Up magic, Cyril performed a brilliant Coin Matrix which featured a kicker ending of the table he was performing on being covered by coins with a wave of his arm. He also did a manipulation routine using dollar bills to the song "Money", and a series of card slights that were so fast and smooth that it seemed at times to blur the line between magic and dance.

In addition to these serious illusions, he also performed several filler tricks to entertain the audience during set changes. Among these were a classic way to make a ring appear to jump from one finger to the next (which he eventually revealed to the audience), and a trick based on the same principle as Banachek's Business Card Russian Roulette illusion.

The Man

Cyril himself was an engaging mix of eastern mystical and foreign cool. His costumes ranged from a druid like monk's robe to a snazzy blue suit, and his dialogue was peppered with his trademark incidental English phrases. Throughout the performance he balanced his ability to inspire awe in the audience with a seemingly contradictory sense of approachability and humor. These latter traits were particularly well illustrated in the illusion which used the "Magic Yellow Box".

In this illusion a boy of about 6 was brought on stage, and asked for use of one of his shoes. The shoe was then put into some kind of "cleaning machine", which of course burst into flames in a shower of sparks and smoke. After looking into the machine, Cyril patted the boy on the head sheepishly, and sent him in the direction of his seat before calling him back. When the boy returned to the stage Cyril bent down, shook his hand, and again sent him towards his seat. The resignation of the child to losing his shoe, and Cyril's ability to let him go farther and farther towards his seat made for a riveting interaction. In the end, of course, the Yellow Box was brought down from the rafters and revealed to contain the boy's shoe.

It is also worth noting that the show played heavily on Cyril's appeal to the ladies in the audience. Several tricks involved props and backgrounds that one might find on a date, such as: roses, wine bottles and glasses, a jazz café, and a well dressed foreign born magician.

Conclusion

Overall the show was well designed and brilliantly performed. The lay audience was entertained and amazed, while the magicians in the audience were challenged and inspired. I would recommend Cyril's shows to anyone who has the opportunity to see one. Though it is worth noting that all of the important speaking is done in Japanese, for the most part it is not hard to infer meaning. That said I hope you found this review helpful, feel free click on the "Contact Me" link to forward any questions or comments.