Darren Romeo Show

2004/05 Winner for Best Show at the Branson Critic Awards.

Darren Romeo: Magical, Musical Multi-Tasker And Cute, To Boot?!

I went to see Darren Romeo: The Voice of Magic with high expectations. When I say ‘high’ I mean that I was mentally prepared for larger-than-life illusions, explosions, a large cast, etc. Brett Daniels makes what…an airplane disappear? Kirby and Bambi do a helicopter. I figured maybe Darren could splinter off from making large, flying objects appear or vanish…maybe a tank, yeah…oh I know…how ‘bout a yacht?

Frankly, when I went, I didn’t pay attention to any brochures or commercials. I noticed Siegfried and Roy’s images on the billboards and made mental assumptions based on that. In doing so, I did exactly what I tell people not to do on my submission form, which is not to compare a local magic show to Siegfried and Roy. Of course any knowledge I have of the world-renown magicians is from pop culture: magazines, the Internet, television (even old episodes of CSI), not from first-hand experience.

So I don’t forget, I find it very necessary to mention here that Darren Romeo is extremely attractive.

But, I digress… I’ll go ahead and mention that there are no larger-than-life illusions (maybe a half-life), only one small explosion and a small cast. So was I disappointed? While I had to make adjustments of my expectations, I was far from disappointed. Exactly the opposite; I enjoyed it tremendously. In fact, it was better than eating chocolate (and I’m a woman, for pete’s sake!)

Before I get into the aspects of the show I enjoyed, I’d like to mention that this was my first time at the Welk Resort Theatre (I’d also like to take this opportunity to include that Darren Romeo is very handsome). Now, as far as the theater is concerned, it was nice. It’s very large and can seat 2,300 people. Apparently there is also a restaurant and a hotel, of which I know nothing about. There is a nice little gift shop and a clean concession area with reasonably priced snacks. The theater was clean and well maintained; with the exception of a ladies room that was completely closed off when we went 7/10/04. Although I didn’t see it, there was another ladies room that was easily accessible to the auditorium, according to my husband (and the men’s facilities were clean, according to him).

For me, the seats were comfortable (they couldn’t be too bad, because if they were, my husband would’ve been belly-aching about it). There were no drink holders, though. This is a real sticking point with me. Between zealously guarding my purse, dispensing money for snacks or cheap doo-dads my kids might want and reaching over and tapping said kids if they were misbehaving – I’d hate to spill my café latte.

At any rate, it’s a beautiful theater. I was neither hot, nor cold and all of the theater staff was both polite and friendly. The theater’s location is fortunate as it’s still in the heart of Branson, but not located on the ‘76 parking lot’. From where we live in North Branson, we took 65 South to Hwy 76 to Fall Creek Rd. to 165 to the Welk Resort and on a Saturday night, got there in 10 minutes.

Now if you haven’t already noticed from pictures, billboards or websites – Darren Romeo is really good-looking. And you really should focus on that. My attention wasn’t really hooked until Act II (although my husband swears I have adult Attention Deficit Disorder). Several times during Act I, Darren warns us that Act II is when it was going to be time ‘to party’. During this more sedate half of the show, I took note of the fact that the self-deprecating entertainer (who pokes fun at his own diminutive stature) has the talent of four people: Illusionist, Musician, Comedian and Entertainer. Everyone laughed when Darren pointed some good-natured teasing at some straggling latecomers who made the mistake of sitting in the front row. Whoever she was, “Hotdog-Lady”, had a good sense of humor about it. The funny thing was he did that WHILE he was singing and he was singing WHILE he was performing an illusion. His timing was excellent. To me that is more amazing than making a tank disappear.

Something else I was impressed with (besides Darren’s looks) was that he brought magic acts right down to the audience. I was sitting nowhere near the front and yet he performed some pretty spectacular feats not six feet away from me. The show seemed to flow with nary a hitch until my husband whispered to me that there was a glitch with his ‘magic piano’. Hubby knew that because he had seen the show the night before. Darren never broke his stride, though. Something else that stuck in my mind is when Darren performed his Rose illusion. He makes a rose out of paper and in a poof of flame, turns it into a real rose. He does this while serenading a lady chosen from the audience; in this case it was Betty. He made a gift of the rose to her and then (this is what struck me) he walked her back to her seat into the care of her husband. Maybe this will seem like a small thing to others, but it struck me as gentlemanly as opposed to just ushering her off stage and having her find her own way back to her seat in the dark.

I probably should, at some point, mention his singing ability. All I can tell you is that it was enjoyable. He seems to be a talented singer and songwriter. I, myself, don’t have much of an ear for music (or a voice for it for that matter). I just know that I like what I like and I enjoyed what I heard. In fact, my most favoritest part of the whole show was his impressions. This was stage magic at its’ finest as his impersonations were dead-on and hilarious. I laughed myself sick. Louis Armstrong, Stevie Wonder, James Brown, Alanis, Celine, Prince and the Backstreet Boys, just to name a few. I also like how he channeled Linda Richmond from Coffee Talk (a la Saturday Night Live) while joking with audience members.

By the way, Darren Romeo is, like, soooooooo cute. I may have mentioned something to this effect already but I’m too lazy to go back and check. My feeling is, if I become overly concerned with what I’ve written in the preceding paragraphs, I’ll never get this review finished.

Anyhoo, no self-respecting reviewer could finish their work without mentioning his fellow illusionist / muse Kristy Michaelson. They also had two young women assisting them. I’ll go ahead and tell you that some here in Branson might feel that the two women assisting were somewhat scantily clad; although they could be considered downright conservative by Vegas standards. Now I know what you’re probably thinking. ‘Oh, this writer is just jealous.’ Puh-leeeeze. Jealous! Pshaw! As if! I mean, what would I have to be jealous of? Sure – Kristy and her two assistants are beautiful…and talented…and are accomplished entertainers…and they get to work with Darren…(sigh)…where was I?

Oh yeah. I get to do exciting stuff…like... write about them.

So back to the show – Kristy doesn’t get to say much but her dancing and facial expressions are very interpretive, easily conveying her part in a scene, whether she’s supposed to be funny, sexy, bewitching or a touch melancholy.

Harry Blackstone’s Floating Light bulb Illusion – simply amazing.

My kids loved this show; they’re still talking about it. The show held their attention better than any other show they’ve ever seen. My kids are still making paper roses at restaurants and here at home. Although a warning to parents: I overheard my 6-year-old ask her 8-year-old brother how he was going to set his paper rose on fire, so hide your lighters and matchbooks from any budding pyromaniacs / magicians.

All in all, Darren is one multi-talented multi-tasker surrounded by a smooth, talented little cast that adds up to a show I can easily recommend to anybody.