Night of magic at Center for the Arts

Bradley Fields' Magic Theatre & Illusion gives audiences all the tricks of the trade with a serving of theater on the side.

By BARBARA L. FREDRICKSEN

© St. Petersburg Times,
published November 2, 2001

Over the years, the Center for the Arts at River Ridge has built a loyal attendance with musicals, plays, impersonators, international dance troupes and singers.

This season, the 900-seat venue opens with something a little different: a magic show.

"We thought we'd try something unusual this year," said Myrt Barber, director of the center. "We'll see how this goes."

The show is Bradley Fields' Magic Theatre & Illusion, a two-act presentation that incorporates familiar magic tricks -- sleight of hand, playing card tricks, a woman escaping from a sealed trunk, and of course, a rabbit in a top hat -- but puts in something more.

"(His) presentation (is) pure fantasy accompanied by clever patter, more poetic in nature than one has learned to expect from a magic act," wrote Alfreda Hays, dance critic for The Summit Independent newspaper in New Jersey. In one part of his show, Fields accompanies his magic with a tale fromThe Arabian Nights.

Fields began his craft at age 14 and went on to study theatre at SUNY College at Purchase, at the Stella Adler Conservatory in New York and, in Paris, with the late mime, Etienne Decroux, who was called "the father of modern mime."

Fields created the role of the Barker for the Broadway musical Barnum and designed magic for the show.

One of his most popular presentations is MatheMagic, a trademarked show that uses magic, story-telling and comedy to teach kids fractions, geometry and the binary system.

His stop in New Port Richey is just one that is taking him through California, Arizona, Illinois, Indiana, North Carolina, Virginia and Florida. Following his shows at River Ridge (only the Sunday show is open to the public), Fields will perform at Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center.

At a glance

WHAT: Bradley Fields' Magic Theatre & Illusion

WHERE: Center for the Arts at River Ridge, 11646 Town Center Road, New Port Richey

WHEN: 2 p.m. Nov. 11

TICKETS: Center sections front, $15; right and left and back rows, $12. Call (727) 774-7381 or 774-7382.

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