It’s in the Cards

Magician

Be prepared for an audience participation trick right out of the gate when attending Limitless, Shin Lim’s close-up magic showcase inside The Mirage Theatre. Spoiler alert: It involves cards. Although Lim resists his act being referred to as “magic,” as in supernatural defiance of physics, he can’t argue that it’s not magical. He draws too many “oohs” and “aahs” from fans who were introduced to his spectacular brand of sleight-of-hand on America’s Got Talent and Penn & Teller: Fool Us. Once they are seated and see the plastic-wrapped rectangles in front of them, they are fully drawn into Lim’s universe.

That universe was created when Lim exchanged a future playing 88 piano keys for one that orbited around decks of 52 playing cards. Lim was diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome while preparing for a career in music, a plot point in his life that is woven into the biographical thread running through the show. The stage set-up is simple: piano, table, crystal-clear jumbo screen above the stage, mentalist Colin Cloud, and Lim’s graceful hands.

Scottish-born Cloud, himself an AGT alumni, transcends mentalist tropes with a rapid-fire delivery and razor-sharp timing. He keeps the show moving quickly with segments that contrast with Lim’s ethereal flow and graceful delivery. One might think carpal tunnel would have hampered Lim’s ability to pull off amazing feats of dexterity, but if he’s feeling any pain, he hides it well.

The ability to manage pain became crucial once the emotive pianist was bitten by the sleight-of-hand bug. Witnessing one trick, the slip force, got him hooked. A medical sabbatical from music study before he embarked on a sustained period of 20 hours a week of practice gave him a chance to refine his approach to close-up magic and develop his own tricks as well as garner a YouTube following. Increasing momentum led to his first International Federation of Magic Societies (FISM) convention in 2012. He came in sixth at the world championship held at the triannual convention, then won first place in 2015. Music’s loss was truly magic’s gain. –

Matt Kelemen

The Mirage, 8+, 800.963.9634