The Magic Play Reviews
DC Theater Arts- Highly Recommended
"...In the art of magic, Andrew Hinderaker has found a vivid metaphor for the dynamics of honesty, trust and control that underpin our most important relationships. His immensely entertaining and profound new work, The Magic Play, combines a jaw-dropping performance of classic card tricks with a compelling backstory of tender love. The result is breathtaking."
MetroWeekly- Highly Recommended
"...The Magician at the heart of The Magic Play, now at Olney Theatre, talks a good game about trust. As performed by Brett Schneider, an expert magician credited with creating illusions for the show, the Magician demonstrates with his well-honed patter and sleight of hand how trust must be seduced and cajoled from an audience in order to control their perception of what's real. He lets us in on the open secret that creating the illusion of spontaneity demands an obsessive attention to detail."
Talkin Broadway- Somewhat Recommended
"...Less effective is the Magician's attempt to reconnect with his father (Harry A. Winter), a capable magician but not an artist like his son, who left his family and entertains at seedy casinos and birthday parties. The interaction is minimal and much less satisfying than the ongoing tension between Daniel and the Magician."
MD Theatre Guide- Highly Recommended
"...There is no illusion that "The Magic Play" is pure entertainment. The personal foibles of a magician are not usually observed by the public. This weaving of the showmanship with the human element is carried out competently by an excellent script, a talented director, cast and technical crew. It is highly recommended."
DCTheatreScene- Recommended
"...So much in this production goes well, it's hard to notice how thin the play itself is. The first Act, after the close-up magic, is all done in retrospect; Jamie and Daniel talk about how their relationship began, and how it ended. It is like seeing a murder mystery where the culprit is led off in chains at the start of the play. What happens may be interesting - it is here - but there's no strong narrative question driving it forward. The second Act takes us on Jamie's journey of self-discovery; those who have been on such journeys know, however, that the trip will not be completed in a single Act and it isn't here."