We attended the Kirby VanBurch magic show on September 28, 2006 and were totally enthralled. Kirby and his wife Bambi were so personable that we felt as though the show was being held in our living room.
The theater is a good one for viewing this type of performance with good visibility from both sides as well as the center section. The steps down from the lobby to the stage were arranged so that even short people were able to navigate them easily. There was also assistance available for those who were a little unsteady on their “pins.”
In addition to the actual live performance, we were treated to a video of the three tiger cubs that Kirby and Bambi had been able to acquire. We also learned that Kirby has set up a foundation to try to keep this particular breed of tiger from extinction, a noble cause. We purchased a stuffed tiger and magic wand during the show because the money all goes to the foundation. Both were reasonable priced and it was nice to feel that we were helping. The thought of one of those beautiful animals being slaughtered for their pelt made us cringe.
In addition to some of the standard illusions such as sawing two women in half and joining the bottom of one with the top of the other, Kirby and Bambi performed some astounding feats such as having a motorcycle and rider move from one cage suspended in the air to another some 10 to 15 feet away. This was done in full view of the audience with only a cover on the cages during the “transmigration.”
The use of big cats in the show was a real treat and added a lot to the “magic” of the performance. They were obviously well cared for and were truly magnificent in size and coloring. After the recent disaster that befell Siegfried and Roy, the use of big cats in a live show brought an element of danger to the illusions.
The finale, making a full-sized helicopter appear in the center of the stage was really amazing, especially because the appearance was so fast. This was billed as the fastest illusion ever and it truly was. I don’t have a clue as to how they did it unless they have the world’s fastest and quietest hydraulic motor.
After the finale, Kirby thanked us for coming and reminded us that what we had seen was all illusion and that only God could do real magic. When the crowd continued to applaud long after the curtain had been drawn, Kirby came out and sat on the edge if the darkened stage. He told us the story of his grandmother and her faith. While breaking a piece of string into many smaller pieces, with only a single spotlight illuminating the stage, Kirby gave his personal testimony. His message filled us with joy and gladness to know that in this day of glitz, glamour and gimmicks, it was wonderful to hear a performer telling his audience that Jesus Christ can heal brokenness. With that poignant statement, he rolled the small pieces of string around in his hands and pulled out a whole string. What an illustration!
In closing, of the seven shows/activities we were fortunate to attend during our week in Branson, Kirby VanBurch’s magic show was the most entertaining, encouraging and wholesome of the bunch. We will definitely be back to see him again.
Dick and Sondra Gwinn
Lebanon, Kentucky