TIME TRAVELLERS
BATS Theatre (Out-Of-Site) Cnr Cuba & Dixon, Wellington
08/02/2014 - 16/02/2014
Production Details
Magicians Exposed as Time Travellers
Ever wondered how magicians perform their miracles? Nopera Whitley and Niko Nash-Krippner are no ordinary illusionists, and claim to perform their feats through manipulation of the time-space continuum.
Written and directed by Whitley, Time Travellers premieres during the NZ Fringe Festival 2014. The show follows two time travellers (posing as magicians) who have landed just in time for their ‘Magic Show’. They soon reveal their mastery of the 4th dimension, and hurl the audience back in time to relive the duo’s sinister past.
Not wanting to ruin the surprise, Whitley is hesitant to reveal too many details about the show. However, he says that the aim is to make people “question their reality”.
“You will see some classic magic effects, but this is certainly no ordinary magic show,” says Whitley. “It’s a little dark, and I hope people leave [the show] believing that they have just witnessed genuine time travel.”
Whitley has been tutoring Nash-Krippner in the art of magic for the past three years. “I met Niko when he was only six” says Whitley. “We have always talked about performing together, and our mentor/student relationship is one that we have a lot of fun with in the show – it creates a new way to tell our story”.
This show will be the first time the duo appear on stage together.
While only nine years old, Nash-Krippner is recognised as New Zealand’s Junior Champion of Stage Magic (a category which includes competitors up to 16 years).
Whitley is the current NZ Close-Up and Card Magic Champion. He is also president of the Wellington Magic Club and founder of NZ’s largest magic shop.
Time Travellers
BATS Theatre, on the corner of Cuba and Dixon Streets
Book online www.bats.co.nz or call (04) 802 4175
Saturday the 8th to Sunday the 9th of Feb at 5pm
Saturday the 15th to Sunday 16th of Feb at 5pm.
Ticket prices range from $12 – $18
and are available at www.bats.co.nz
Theatre , Magic/Illusion ,
Sat & Sun only
Leaves its audience humming
Review by John Smythe 09th Feb 2014
If the plethora of magic shows on television has put you off, especially those that purport to put the magicians in mortal danger (I mean would the show have really gone to air if the magician had died?), rest assured Time Travellers doesn’t go that way.
Right from the start the whole time-shift game plays with our brains. And a “Letter from the Future” is locked in a small case – “The Portal” – suspended aloft that remains in full view throughout.
The boy – Niko Nash-Krippner – emerging from a shallow suitcase might not be too mystifying for those with an astute eye but when the long ladder follows … Yes, they’ve got me there.
A North American female voice-over welcomes us “to the Time Vortex”. Young Niko wins our sympathy with his yet-to-be-mastered handkerchief tricks until he confounds us with a twist or two. His mentor – and the show’s writer and co-director (with Nichola Prokop) – Nopera Whitley will seduce us with superior talents but on opening night it’s Niko who seems more confident. Or is this intended? You never can tell with magic shows …
Tricks that involve crucial input from randomly selected audience members – e.g. we toss a screwed up ball of paper or throw a paper dart to determine who will make the next offer – succeed in amazing mere mortals like me. It’s a shame, therefore, that the climactic moment involves the person who took our tickets at the door and has the same voice as the one who welcomed us to the Vortex, and that there is no independent verification of what is contained in the letter from The Portal.
It’s a good show, nevertheless, that leaves its audience humming. The levitating table is especially impressive.
Copyright © in the review belongs to the reviewer
Comments
John Smythe February 10th, 2014
Ah well, 'perception is all' when it comes to illusions. All I can say to the audience members to come is don't be put off by dire warnings of losing 24 hours of your life - volunteer!
Nopera Whitley February 9th, 2014
Thank you John for your kind comments and feedback - it will surely be taken on board.
As the writer/performer, I would however like to comment on the last paragraph. In particular the suggestion that perhaps a stooge or plant may have been used. Within the magic community it is certanly frowned upon to use such methods and as someone who is significanty involved in this scene, I would not even consider using such a ploy out of fear that it may tanish my name. A great deal of thinking went into the final effect, so I would just like to clarify that stooges are not used - this would be unethical from my point of view.
Every night there are different people used, and as you said, major decisions were made by people chosen randomly. Perhaps there is a need to make this more clear. I can assure you that the lady up on stage was not the person taking tickets, and the voice - simply computer generated.
None-the-less thank you for coming, and taking the Time to write up the review. Your kind words are much appreciated.