The Illusionists: Jeff Hobson, aka “The Trickster”, Brings the Magic
By Danny Groner for Huff Post
Broadway audiences members will experience both magic and entertainment starting this Thursday, with the opening of The Illusionists. I caught the show at a preview performance last week, and one of the cast members agreed to respond to some of my questions via email. Here’s what Jeff Hobson, “The Trickster,” one of the show’s seven performers, had to say:
Q: Seven magicians is a lot to fill and take command of the stage. Why is it important to have so many so-called leads inside this show?
Hobson: While it’s not necessary, it is a landmark. It’s never been done before. We’ve set a new bar for magic excellence.
Q: In the show, it’s revealed that all seven of you hail from different parts of the world. Do you each approach magic, and entertainment more generally, differently? It’s a global discipline, but all of it showcased on one stage.
Hobson: As we’ve traveled around the world with this show, I can attest that having diverse magicians certainly has intrigue. Even though we are diverse, magic is a very small society of shared secrets. We have all learned the basics of magic the same way however, the difference comes with our own unique presentations each rooted in our culture. We are truly a global team!