chases that magical feeling

A TRICKY new show with more audience interaction is what Cosentino is aiming to present at Her Majesty’s Theatre this month.

The magician-illusionist-escapologist will bring his show Tricked – An Evening of Wonder on Wednesday 22 July.

Cosentino has become a staple in Australian entertainment after years of television and live performances, books and awards.

However, the artist is still searching for two things.

“No matter how many TV shows you do, or where you travel around the world, or what happens, it’s about how you feel when you perform for people, and how you make them feel back,” he said.

Cosentino speaks passionately about his aim to entertain audiences, with some showgoers suspending disbelief as much as those who are trying to solve each illusion.

“My job is to create the best version of sawing somebody in half so that the audience doesn’t get taken out of it and they go, ‘Oh my gosh, it looks so real’,” he said.

He said magic and death-defying acts can inspire as well as stir curiosity.

“I think in Western culture, magic works in a way that it allows the audience to, if they’re willing to, go with the flow and be told…that person disappeared and reappeared,” he said.

“‘I know it’s a trick, I know it’s an illusion’, they think, ‘but imagine if that was actually possible’.”

Unlike previous performances, Cosentino is bringing a show to the city that has him further interact with the audience.

He said that added risk to his act.

“When a comedian starts doing crowd work, like Jimmy Carr for example, when he does ask the crowd, you’ve got to be really skilled now,” he said. “And that’s why so many people admire his kind of comedy.

“Well, in my show, that’s exactly what I’m doing.

“I’m not comparing myself to him, but what I’m saying is I bring the people up and I go, ‘OK, choose this, grab that, see’, and how they react because they’re on camera also determines how the audience reacts.

“So you’re risking a lot.”

However, he admits to his career being a bit of a “roller coaster”.

“Really incredible things have happened… What a beautiful thing to be able to do, a beautiful craft to be able to bring to people,” he said.

Tickets at hermaj.com