Interludes

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Illusionist Jonathan Tai, a soothing presence, seamlessly weaves wonderment into MISSED CONNECTIONS

• By drediman
• February 12, 2021
• No Comments

Last night, I attended – via live-stream, of course – Jonathan Tai’s Missed Connections, courtesy of Chicago’s A Red Orchid Theatre. If you’re a fan of the works of such illusionists as Derren Brown, Jason Suran, and Scott Silven, you’ll likely appreciate this technically proficient practitioner and the thematic twist he puts on the interactive magic/mentalist show genre. But if you’re a virgin to such entertainment, you’re likely in for an especially special treat. Indeed, I still vividly remember being astounded by Mr. Brown’s Secret when I first encountered it at Off-Broadway’s Atlantic Theater Company (before the hit production transferred uptown to larger digs); to this day, that first dabble with the genre remains the most impactful experience of the lot.

Like other illusion-driven shows I’ve virtually participated in (thus far during the pandemic, I’ve experienced Mr. Suran and Mr. Silven’s successful forays into the digital realm), Mr. Tai limits each of his sessions to about 20 or so guests, which allows for maximum intimacy and interaction. One of the primary pleasures of smaller groups is how they allow audience members the sense of having a direct hand at determining the shape and outcome of the show. Over the course of the show’s hourlong runtime, Mr. Tai gets to know his audiences on a first-name basis as he weaves his sleight-of-hand around lofty notions like multiverses and causality. Contrary to the work’s title (inspired by the yearning, eponymous Craigslist ads), Missed Connections is ultimately less about regret than you might think. In fact, the logical endgame of it all triangulates to a hopeful and upbeat sentiment – that each moment should be embraced as a dynamic new opportunity.

Like Mr. Suran and Mr. Silven before him, Mr. Tai once again proves that virtual theatrical gatherings need not be sub-optimal to in-person events. There’s a democratic sensibility (e.g., no seating hierarchy, the ability to access the performance from practically anywhere, more affordable ticket pricing, etc.) that I find appealing and heightened in such shows as Missed Connections. As for Mr. Tai himself, he’s supplies a calming, soothing presence and makes for a most gracious and classy host. I admire his decision to de-emphasize the dramatic “ta-da” moments that usually accompany his contemporaries’ trickery. This concerted effort to seamlessly incorporate wonderment into the fabric of his show results in an experience that’s balanced and effortlessly involving.

RECOMMENDED

MISSED CONNECTIONS
Theater / Live-stream
A Red Orchid Theatre
1 hour (without an intermission)
Through February 28