2003 comments about Dirk Arthur

If you have seen Dirk Arthur, please ADD your own comment.

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Dirk Arthur       
Date Seen: 12/03 - Good Show
Dirk Arthur’s “The New Art of Magic” is a good show. He executes his tricks without fail. That is not always the case in a magic show, but what does an audience want to see? It wants to see what Arthur does best, a flawless execution of magic. Arthur is not cutesy, does not over act, but produces very good illusions both small and large.

I would rank him second amongst the magicians I have seen in Las Vegas, only trailing behind Lance Burton and his show at the Monte Carlo. Burton has a wonderful theater and a juggler/comedian along with a very large cast. Arthur does not have quite the facility Burton does, although the Plaza’s showroom is a fairly good facility with booth and table seating. Arthur has three female assistants and a good number of large cats, along with birds. When I saw the show, I was a little nervous about the tigers and the black leopard considering what recently happened at the Mirage to Roy Horn. Arthur tries to salve concerns about the safety of the audience concerning the cats with a film on his large cat training. I still was a little concerned, but Arthur seems to have a good grasp on the mood of his four-footed assistants.

I actually liked the chicken trick better than the appearance of his tigers. I swear I don’t see how a chicken can fly through the air invisibly and appear in a glass box filled up by an inflated balloon. What has irritated me the most about the four major magicians I have seen has been their attempt to bring their personality out and somehow woo the sympathies of the audience. Dirk Arthur does not have a very strong personality, not nearly as strong as Rick Thomas who can be very compelling. But I still rate him ahead of Thomas, who appears at the Tropicana for afternoon shows, and ahead of Steve Wyrick, who is appearing at the Aladdin. That is because Arthur performs his large and small magic equally well, and that is his strength.

The next issue becomes the audience. It is not as easy to draw large crowds downtown. Most people who visit downtown are there to gamble at the casinos that have some of the best odds in Vegas. But even so, the Plaza is a very good facility. Prices are around $45, which is less than Burton or Wyrick’s show. However, Thomas has afternoon shows priced around $20 with plenty of coupons available for that show. Still, I recommend Arthur’s show and if you are ever downtown around 7 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday, this is a good show to take in. In addition he has a 3 p.m. Sunday matinee. This is a pretty good show for the family.

I had previously seen Dirk Arthur at Jubilee, and I thought he was the best part of the show. The only suggestion I would have for him is to bring in a comic or a singer to break up the show a bit, and maybe add a bit more personality to the show. Still, I don’t think the personality aspect is that important in magic. Doing the tricks is the most important part of a magic show, and Arthur does a good job of that. Oh, and his ending tricks are very good. I thought I had figured out the disappearing Lamborghini trick. I was wrong and it surprised me.


<pkarnold -at- swbell.net> - Austin TX USA - Added 12/30/03 - [204.65.3.***]    2399

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Dirk Arthur       
Date Seen: 05/03 - Good Show
Down to earth performer. Love those animals that he totally loves and respects as they obviously do him...
<taylormaule -at- msn.com> - USA - Added 11/12/03 - [4.7.218.***]    2293

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