At its core, Round House Theatre鈥檚 latest entry is a magic show; but it鈥檚 so much more.
The world premiere of now playing at the Bethesda Theater through March 15, features illusionist Dendy, who takes the audience on a very personal journey through his life growing up in a small Midwest town.
Dendy recounts being a lonely child. But once he got his first magic set, everything changed. He was hooked for life. And once he transforms himself into that little kid 鈥� complete with a lisp 鈥� in the first act, the audience is hooked, too.
Dendy almost glides through the sure-to-win-awards set like a dancer. The strategic lighting plays a strong part, and the music subtly sets the mood without being dominant or a distraction. And the Mister Rogers-like wardrobe changes are lovely.
Everything feels warm, cozy and just right.
Though it鈥檚 described as a one-man show, “Nothing Up My Sleeve” is anything but. Dendy relies heavily on audience members to be part of the act. The man knows how to work a crowd.
He mixes in the history of magic while paying homage to some of his heroes. Dendy is clearly a master magician, but he鈥檚 really a storyteller at heart.
The show was conceived and co-written by Dendy and Aaron Posner, who also directed. The two previously collaborated (along with Teller of Penn and Teller) on a very different take of Shakespeare鈥檚 “The Tempest,” which was a hit at Round House in 2022.
If all goes well, producers are hoping “Nothing Up My Sleeve” will get a U.S. tour down the road and perhaps a U.K. tour after that.
I was reminded of the last live magic show I saw 鈥� way back in the mid-90s 鈥� “Ricky Jay and His 52 Assistants,” which was scintillating. Jay was a master showman and manipulator.
The biggest difference for me: this show is warmer, kinder and gentler. You want to be Dendy鈥檚 friend. Most magicians can鈥檛 pull off that trick.
“Nothing Up My Sleeve” is intimate, it鈥檚 funny, it鈥檚 heartwarming, it鈥檚 delightful. There鈥檚 nothing objectionable or offensive. It鈥檚 for adults but very appropriate for kids ages 10 and older.
If you鈥檙e looking for amazing sleight of hand, disappearing objects and oh-my-gosh-how-did-he-do-that moments, you won鈥檛 be disappointed.
But if you want more details about the show, you鈥檝e come to the wrong place. To say more would be akin to explaining a magic trick, and that鈥檚 obviously a no-no.
One other thing: In an era when shows and movies can sometimes push three hours, it鈥檚 nice to have one that’s barely two hours. It actually feels like less and leaves you wanting more.
And that might be the show’s greatest trick of all.
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