Edd Fairman, Wizard of Sorts

THE PIPELINE
People Inspired,
Community Driven
08/10/2010

And for our next story, we bring you Edd Fairman, a Wizard of Sorts


Edd Fairman, Wizard of Sorts, keeps audience members on their toes.








On the opening night of Edd Fairman's show at Gorilla Tango Theatre this past Thursday, the audience was three quarters full, which ain't too shabby for a magician with Rockabilly hair who bills himself as merely "a wizard of sorts."

For the mood I was in, and the sort of thing I needed to see, Edd's tricks, aided by a few bars from the Chariots of Fire soundtrack, silver rings that matched the bling on an audience participant's shirt, and references to Harry Houdini's death, couldn't have come at a better time.
I won't reveal the specifics of the talents displayed on stage, though in general they involved mind reading, kiwi fruit handling, dollar bills magically appearing out of said fruit, ropes, rings, and if you want to get specific, an audience participant who works at a suburban company that manufacturers cameras for spy planes--- well, that guy maybe won't be in the audience again unless he becomes an Edd Fairman Wizard of Sorts groupie, which doesn't sound like the sort of thing that would be all that bad. Everyone needs an escape, and this hour or so in a small dark theater, having no idea what's coming next, might come as close as myself or any of us could hope for these days. Or maybe not. See for yourself, like Dennis and Nancy of suburban Barrington did.

While walking out of the show, I recognized the couple from half way through the act, when Edd got increasingly chatty with the audience. It was too dark to see if there was any blushing when Dennis was asked how long he and Nancy have been together, but he'd replied proudly and with gusto, "Eight months!" Now, Dennis was out on the street in front of the theater, holding Nancy's hand, perhaps preparing to take his date to Margie's up the street--I don't know, I'm just speculating at this point, but Margie's Candies would be a pretty perfect place to round out an evening at a magic show. Dennis reported that he'd been to a previous comedy show at GTT where Fairman was an opening act, and upon hearing about the solo show figured it would be a fun excuse to take the Metra into the city for a night on the town. "See a guy do magic live for ten bucks, how can you go wrong there?"


Dennis and Nancy
Edd Fairman, Wizard of Sorts, runs Thursdays at 8 PM through Sept. 2. Tickets are $10 and the show is rated PG-13. For more GTT August theater listings and descriptions, click here. Gorilla Tango Theatre, 1919 N. Milwaukee.
- Chicago Pipeline

THE PIPELINE
People Inspired,
Community Driven
08/10/2010

And for our next story, we bring you Edd Fairman, a Wizard of Sorts


Edd Fairman, Wizard of Sorts, keeps audience members on their toes.








On the opening night of Edd Fairman's show at Gorilla Tango Theatre this past Thursday, the audience was three quarters full, which ain't too shabby for a magician with Rockabilly hair who bills himself as merely "a wizard of sorts."

For the mood I was in, and the sort of thing I needed to see, Edd's tricks, aided by a few bars from the Chariots of Fire soundtrack, silver rings that matched the bling on an audience participant's shirt, and references to Harry Houdini's death, couldn't have come at a better time.
I won't reveal the specifics of the talents displayed on stage, though in general they involved mind reading, kiwi fruit handling, dollar bills magically appearing out of said fruit, ropes, rings, and if you want to get specific, an audience participant who works at a suburban company that manufacturers cameras for spy planes--- well, that guy maybe won't be in the audience again unless he becomes an Edd Fairman Wizard of Sorts groupie, which doesn't sound like the sort of thing that would be all that bad. Everyone needs an escape, and this hour or so in a small dark theater, having no idea what's coming next, might come as close as myself or any of us could hope for these days. Or maybe not. See for yourself, like Dennis and Nancy of suburban Barrington did.

While walking out of the show, I recognized the couple from half way through the act, when Edd got increasingly chatty with the audience. It was too dark to see if there was any blushing when Dennis was asked how long he and Nancy have been together, but he'd replied proudly and with gusto, "Eight months!" Now, Dennis was out on the street in front of the theater, holding Nancy's hand, perhaps preparing to take his date to Margie's up the street--I don't know, I'm just speculating at this point, but Margie's Candies would be a pretty perfect place to round out an evening at a magic show. Dennis reported that he'd been to a previous comedy show at GTT where Fairman was an opening act, and upon hearing about the solo show figured it would be a fun excuse to take the Metra into the city for a night on the town. "See a guy do magic live for ten bucks, how can you go wrong there?"


Dennis and Nancy
Edd Fairman, Wizard of Sorts, runs Thursdays at 8 PM through Sept. 2. Tickets are $10 and the show is rated PG-13. For more GTT August theater listings and descriptions, click here. Gorilla Tango Theatre, 1919 N. Milwaukee.
- Chicago Pipeline

Ain't he cute?! His perfectly coiffed hair, clear complexion and thick, nerdy glasses made me instantly swoon, even before I saw the show in its entirety!
Because tonight at 8 pm, at Gorilla Tango Theatre a fabulously engaging, highly entertaining magician will be ready to amaze you with fun tricks and dirty jokes. Edd Fairman, the magician who runs this show, was voted “Magician of the Year” by the Chicago Wizard’s Club, and for good reason: His show will make you rethink the simplicity of some of the most classic tricks in the book.
Most magicians do a trick once and then move on. Fairman instead attempts to give away his secrets by showing the audience a trick over and over, successfully bamboozling you further. During one trick I tried really hard not to be distracted by his charming audience chat, and instead just focused on what his hands were doing. Although I barely blinked, he was able to perform a difficult trick flawlessly, leaving me to wonder if he really was magical.
Unlike other magicians I have seen, Fairman really interacts with the audience, bringing everyone from children to old men on stage to have them be his assistant. He jokes with people, makes them feel comfortable and works off their energy. It’s great to see and it makes the show more fun. Not one person looked embarrassed to be on the stage and no one was reluctant to join him when he called them up to participate!
You are sure to enjoy every trick, but get excited when he whips out a kiwi. I won’t give away the secret, but it is AWESOME and makes the whole show about a million times better! I am still wondering how he did what he did!
- Making Chicago Home

Ain't he cute?! His perfectly coiffed hair, clear complexion and thick, nerdy glasses made me instantly swoon, even before I saw the show in its entirety!
Because tonight at 8 pm, at Gorilla Tango Theatre a fabulously engaging, highly entertaining magician will be ready to amaze you with fun tricks and dirty jokes. Edd Fairman, the magician who runs this show, was voted “Magician of the Year” by the Chicago Wizard’s Club, and for good reason: His show will make you rethink the simplicity of some of the most classic tricks in the book.
Most magicians do a trick once and then move on. Fairman instead attempts to give away his secrets by showing the audience a trick over and over, successfully bamboozling you further. During one trick I tried really hard not to be distracted by his charming audience chat, and instead just focused on what his hands were doing. Although I barely blinked, he was able to perform a difficult trick flawlessly, leaving me to wonder if he really was magical.
Unlike other magicians I have seen, Fairman really interacts with the audience, bringing everyone from children to old men on stage to have them be his assistant. He jokes with people, makes them feel comfortable and works off their energy. It’s great to see and it makes the show more fun. Not one person looked embarrassed to be on the stage and no one was reluctant to join him when he called them up to participate!
You are sure to enjoy every trick, but get excited when he whips out a kiwi. I won’t give away the secret, but it is AWESOME and makes the whole show about a million times better! I am still wondering how he did what he did!
- Making Chicago Home