Shin Lim continues amazing Las Vegas audiences
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2.27.22
LAS VEGAS MAGAZINE
By KEN MILLER
By the time Shin Lim first hit the stage of America’s Got Talent in 2018, judges Simon Cowell, Heidi Klum, Mel B and Howie Mandel had seen many magicians over the years (including winner Mat Franco), and were learning to truly judge magic acts with a critical eye. But none of them were prepared for what Lim brought to the table—literally. As stunned host Tyra Banks looked on, Lim proceeded to put on a magic clinic at a small, felt-lined table, making cards (and entire decks) go through various states of matter, turning blank, clear, and even encased in a solid brick. The stunned looks on everyone’s faces made it clear: Lim was on his way to superstardom. Not only did he handily win season 13, he remains the only champion to win twice (on America’s Got Talent: The
Champions). No one who saw him on TV (or voted for him) was in the least bit surprised when his Las Vegas residency at The Mirage was announced in 2019. And no one who’s seen his Las Vegas show leaves disappointed. What makes Lim so accessible to audiences is his humility; he’s not afraid to share the stage with another amazing talent, in this case fellow AGT competitor Colin Cloud, a mentalist who’s also an adept comedian, engaging the audience in between Lim’s feats of wonder. In a way, Cloud is the perfect foil to Lim: What better way to enjoy mind-blowing magic than with comic interludes? The pacing is perfect throughout, with Lim’s elegant illusions (often scored to romantic music like Sting’s “Shape of My Heart”) punctuated by Cloud having a bit of fun with the audience. The pandemic shutdown of 2020 gave Lim plenty of time to work on new material. One of the most noteworthy involves a young audience volunteer (children just have
the most amazing reactions during a Lim performance!), some playing cards and one card picked by said volunteer. Even if you’ve seen the “Is this your card?” trick before, prepare to be blown away by Lim’s version. Kids figure prominently in this show. Cloud has a great bit in which he has various young volunteers shout out random words, which figure prominently later in the bit. Yes, we all know kids can say the darnedest things, but when you hear them live—and see Cloud’s unscripted reactions—it’s almost worth the price of admission alone. By now, most Lim fans are aware of his “greatest hits,” the illusions that won him AGT and the Champions edition. And yes, Lim does perform those, although in a slightly different way than you might expect. Without giving anything away, let’s just say you want to be watching the man himself as well as the cards he so skillfully manipulates. Because in Lim’s world, nothing is as it seems.
Courtesy photo
