The Illusionists come to Canberra
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How exactly does one secure the crossbow-wielding, leather-clad role of ‘The Warrior’ in The Illusionists – Direct from Broadway?
In Robyn Sharpe’s case, the answer is years of hard work and an unyielding sense of determination.
It might come as a surprise that as a child, Robyn didn’t harbour a desire to become a magician. Instead, the Cairns native practised gymnastics for over a decade, spurring a fascination with the performing arts.
“That’s probably why I got into skill-based magic,” Robyn explains, “because in gymnastics you have to run your skills over and over again, and practice heaps of drills before they’re ready to put into a routine. It’s the same with skill based magic, especially danger acts.”
Robyn was performing in dance shows at the Casino when she was first exposed to magic.
“There was a magic show in 2009. I saw it, I loved it, and I actually ended up in the show.”
While Robyn says she enjoys both big stage illusions, it’s skill-based magic that she was enchanted by.
“I toured with someone who was doing a bow act and I really loved it. I would sit backstage and watch, and just be enthralled by it.”
Queensland laws and regulations presented a barrier for Robyn to undertake the necessary training, but the magician was unwavering in her desire to learn.
“Once I decided to do it, I found a marksman in the US, and he was like, ‘the best way to do it is if you fly out here, I’ll teach you personally.’ So, I did.”
Since that time, Robyn says her performances and skillset have developed exponentially.
“You’re working with so many different illusionists who are the very best at magic in their type of magic that they do. Each person is so willing to help the other Illusionists in the cast to get their act even better, and share tips and ideas. I’ve learned a lot since being in the cast.”
When it comes to the cast that she’ll be sharing the Canberra stage with, Robyn is glowing in her appraisal.
“Jonathan Goodwin who’s The Daredevil, he’s a good friend of mine and a mentor. He’s the type of performer I aspire to be, because he blurs the line between magic and reality.”
“Kevin James – I would compare working with him to being an entrepreneur, and working with Richard Branson. When I first started in magic in 2010 at the casino in Cairns, we were performing illusions that he invented. It blows me away that I get to share the stage with someone who’s shaped magic into what it is today.”
Other cast members include An Ha Lim as The Manipulator, Chris Cox as The Mentalist, and Jeff Hobson as The Trickster. The Conjuress, aka Jinger Leigh, is a modern sorceress with a unique blend of elegance and theatricality, which has redefined the role of the magician, while The Showman, aka Mark Kalin, has been one of the most influential magicians of the last decade, bringing his distinctive, amazing large scale illusions to stages across the world.
“I’d love to describe it [the experience of seeing the show] as magical, but I think that’s a bit cheesy” laughs Robyn. “Especially with this cast, the best way I can describe it is a roller coaster of emotion.”
“One minute your ribs will ache with laughter over something crazy that Hobson is doing, and the next you’ll be cringing, covering your eyes because you don’t want to see what Goodwin is doing to himself, and the next you’ll be experiencing a surge of pure joy when you’re watching Kevin James.”
the essentials
What: The Illusionists – Direct from Broadway
When: Thursday 6 December – Sunday 16 December 2018
Where: Canberra Theatre Centre
Tickets: Available online.
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