Image supplied by Luke Hocking.
It is easy to be a cynic when it comes to watching ‘magic’.
Smoke and mirrors, distractions and deception, and a man in a top hat and bowtie; these are generally considered the core ingredients when creating a quality magic show.
Or so you may think.
Melbourne-based magician Luke Hocking has produced a seamless and astounding collection of unexplainable feats and illusions that will impress even the most sceptical audience members. Dressed in a smart tuxedo (minus the stereotypical top hat), Hocking is gracious and charismatic, charming his small audience with his hypnotic storytelling ability and clever sense of humour. He quickly gains trust from everyone in the room with his winning personality, describing the long history of magic and revealing the secrets to some of his basic tricks, and then follows up this disclosure with another fascinating illusion to further shock his eager fans.
Hocking has been a magician for over 10 years and this does not come as a surprise. His showmanship is excellent and each component of his hour-long show is flawless. If he made any slip-ups during the performance, it was impossible to tell, and he had the audience captivated from the moment he walked into the room. Incredible card tricks, mind reading, making objects disappear and even conjuring a live goldfish out of thin air, everything that Hocking does is absolutely mind-blowing. It is clear that an enormous amount of thought and preparation has been invested in perfecting each illusion. The script is fluid and engaging, and the tales he recounts about the history of magic are interesting and informative without giving any real trade secrets away.
Audience participation is key when it comes to magic shows, and this is no different in Impossible Occurrences. With only a mere forty or so people to choose from within the intimate venue, many audience members were asked to assist with Hocking’s tricks. The stunned reactions from those lucky enough to be involved contributed greatly to the overall wow-factor of the show, and participating in the show was not an uncomfortable experience as most audience participation tends to be; everybody was thrilled to be asked to take part in creating the magic. The intimate performance space enhances the authenticity of the show as everyone is seated so close to the action; close enough to expect to be able to spot any sleight-of-hand deception. Despite the close proximity of each audience member to the stage, at times it was frustratingly difficult to see the action due to the seating arrangement, particularly for people in the back row. The lack of lighting design or dramatic sound effects means that the focus is on Hocking at all times, without any distracting technical assistance, which further contributes to its success.
Impossible Occurrences is a show like no other. The word ‘amazing’ is thrown around quite a bit in reviews, but Luke Hocking is truly amazing. He is captivating and endearingly deceptive as he shocks his avid audience with his impressive ‘magical’ abilities. With wide eyes and even wider mouths, he left everyone in a stunned stupor of shock and excitement, along with the deep sense that the impossible can most definitely occur.
Rating: 4 ½ out of 5 stars
Impossible Occurrences
Performed by Luke Hocking
Marriott Hotel Melbourne, Exhibition St
www.impossibleoccurrences.com.au
July 4 – September 12 (Friday nights only)
