Chicago Magic Lounge: Ryan Plunkett Old Fashioned Magic
Ryan Plunkett
Chicago Magic Lounge Presents OLD FASHIONED MAGIC Review - You Never Go Wrong With A Classic
TLDR: Chicago favorite and long time resident of the Chicago Magic Lounge, Ryan Plunkett performs his signature act of Old Fashioned Magic as the latest Wednesday night headliner. Dressed in a classic suit, he ties all his illusions back to nostalgia, vintage props, or the classic drink in a highball glass.
Ryan Plunkett performing in the cabaret theater
The Perfect Pairing at The Chicago Magic Lounge
The Chicago Magic Lounge always has that classic, old fashioned feel. Dimly lit with dark walls and gold accents. Bartenders wearing vests and ties. And of course the hidden entrance (if you know, you know) making this the perfect 20s inspired hideaway.
This particular evening, The After Party started our outing with a cocktail at the bar with Deven at the helm for some bar magic. He’s as high energy as they come learning the name of every person at the bar. He hands out bells for patrons to ring enthusiastically and pulls out the airhorn sound effect when he wants to toot his own horn. He calls on a guy down at the far end of the bar and tells him to pull a quarter out from behind his ear. Easiest trick in the book because it's invisible. He then makes the coin visible in the blink of an eye and then proceeds to make it disappear and reappear before our eyes. He then, of course, pulls out a deck of cards for a “is this your card” trick, but that card ends up in the oddest, most unexpected place in the bar.
With our minds already blown and hyped up, it’s time for the main event as we make our way to the main cabaret theater.
Ryan Plunkett
Bringing In The Old Fashioned Bits
We start with, what else, but an old fashioned. Plunkett comes out onto the stage in a perfectly tailored blue suit. He smiles at the crowd and tries to pull a fast one on us by showing us an empty bag, right? Even an audience member verifies the bag is empty. But somehow a bottle ends up in there and Plunkett pours himself a couple fingers of whiskey
He makes quick work of befriending the crowd by surprising a lucky audience member with a gift of a piece of string, and then another one, and another one, each time has us laughing as Plunkett’s new friend now has become the master of strings.
As instrumental music plays, he pulls out an old fashioned floating ball toy. He blows into the toy and the ball floats weightless above it. He takes the ball and bounces it, but it has turned into a golf ball. He pulls out a glass and cracks the golf ball because surprise it's now an egg!
He pulls out inconspicuous items - a vodka bottle, a walnut, a chalkboard, a peanut can. Everything is linked to something else and even the simplest of items becomes an integral part of his act. He makes things disappear and reappear into other things. He asks for random inputs from the audience and somehow ends up reading their minds. It’s a night of nothing less than surprises and delights for everyone.
Ryan Plunkett
The After Party Thoughts
Ryan Plunkett is the master of misdirection leading us to believe the unbelievable. How did that object end up in the walnut inside the unopened peanut can? How did solid metal objects end up linked together? He his act down to an art and a science. He never misses a beat and moves smoothly from one illusion to another while still engaging with the crowd. He joshes the audience and has everyone laughing, but then slows it down so the audience hangs on to every word.
For those looking for a smooth and seemingly effortless night out at the Magic Lounge with classic Chicago style sleight of hand illusions, Old Fashioned Magic would be a good fit for you.
RECOMMENDED
Ryan Plunkett
When
Wednesdays now through September 24, 2025
Where
Chicago Magic Lounge
5050 North Clark Street.
Chicago, IL, 60640
Runtime: 1hr 30min, no intermission
Tickets
$42+
Tickets can be purchased through the Chicago Magic Lounge website
Photos
Elizabeth Larson
Find Allie and The After Party featured on Theatre in Chicago