Whether you prefer David Copperfield’s disappearing acts, or Harry Houdini’s art of escape, every magician and illusionist has his own unique signature to make his act stand out. Vitaly Beckman’s unique signatures are his charming personality, and the humor he interlaces throughout his performance. I attended Opening Night of his run at the Cultch to see his stage show, which included levitating spoons, a paintbrush that paints on its own, and even a demonstration of telekinesis. The show is not large-scale - there are no roaring tigers, disappearing women, or rabbits appearing in hats - but his sleight of hand and card tricks eventually dazzled even the most doubting audience member.

I admit that I am a skeptic when it comes to magic, but a few of Beckman’s acts had even this so-called skeptic questioning “How’d he do that?” My favourite trick involved a bag of groceries carrying exactly what one audience member selected and not an item more, but it was also pretty mind-blowing when Vitaly made his own drawings come to life. The show featured lots of audience participation, so it is worth coming to just to laugh at your friend’s embarrassment when they get pulled up on stage - make sure you subtly sit them on an aisle! The older children in the audience seemed to especially appreciate the show.

Beckman was born in Belarus and grew up in Israel, where he began studying magic at the age of fourteen before moving to Vancouver in 2008. He invents and designs all of his own illusions, and it is evident while watching him perform that he enjoys what he does.

Perhaps the most notable moment of the evening was when Beckman asked an audience member to help chain him to a chair, then hang the key on the dangling wire a few feet in front of him. What stood out for me was what Beckman said next, before “telekinetically” swinging the wire back and forth until he was able to grasp the key in his mouth and unlock himself. He explained that this situation is one that many people can relate to - feeling locked up and helpless, with the solution within reach yet just outside of one’s grasp - yet as he explained…the chains we imagine for ourselves are just an illusion. Maybe it’s the psychology student in me speaking out, but I can see a potential future for Vitaly Beckman’s act in the fields of healthcare or mental health therapy - helping struggling people realize that dreams can become reality, and that some of the barriers and limitations they face can be overcome with a simple change of attitude.

"The show is not just magic,” says Beckman, “It’s about the realization of our dreams and the celebration of the human spirit. With the belief that we are only limited by our own imagination, the audience gets to experience the sensation that nothing is impossible, and that they can realize their dreams, or experience the sensation of how would life be, if there were no limitations.”

© 2010 Cassie Silva