Penn & Teller have been performing their patented brand of magic and comedy for four decades, continuously updating their material throughout their reign at the Rio. It’s been historically consistent in its slightly dark and cynical tone, but the atmosphere feels different at current shows. Along with Penn shedding more than 100 pounds and several feet of hair, the mood of the show feels a little lighter, maybe even … family friendly. A classic kids’ magic trick is now part of the act, and children of all ages are invited onstage for the bit that involves a pygmy elephant, or at least a close approximation of one.
“This show has a slightly different feel from previous shows, and the sense that I have is that it’s a little more sort of totally inclusive of everybody,” says Teller by phone the morning after a Wednesday night performance. “Everybody gets to participate in the ‘Love Ritual’ card trick, and then right after that we invite everyone onstage and surround our African spotted pygmy elephant Elsie before she disappears. And so there’s a sense towards the end of the show, everyone is really part of the gang.”
Shows have been selling out as well, to the point where there are plans to install video monitors for people sitting in the balcony. That may be due in part to the success of Penn & Teller: Fool Us, the CMT network television series in which magicians attempt to perform tricks without Penn & Teller being able to figure out how they’re done.
“It’s really quite wonderful,” says Teller. “We do the entire show as a warm-up act for them, then they come on and do their piece as the closer on the show. It works out very well because by that time the audience is quite warmed up and ready to rejoice in whatever they present. Of course, the coolest guy this year was Mahdi Gilbert. That’s the guy who doesn’t have hands but who does amazing card tricks. He’s working on doing the cups and balls without hands.”
The traditional cups and balls trick inspired Penn & Teller to add their take on it to the show, a take in turn inspired by Penn’s children’s interest in vampires and zombies. Penn’s parenthood may in fact have indirectly influenced the show to take a lighter turn, although there’s still a little fake blood and the illusion of a dire fate for a rabbit that stars in the production. Fool Us has led to a new generation of children learning about the show, with a corresponding increase in tickets being bought for kids.
“Fool Us does seem to be taking off as a major new influence,” says Teller. “But not more of an impact than when Penn was on Celebrity Apprentice. We’re just sort of everywhere all the time doing different stuff, so it’s hard to forget about us.”
Rio, 9 p.m. Sat.-Wed. (dark Nov. 27), $76.84-$97.02 VIP plus tax and fee. 702.777.7776
