An easy rapport with the audience, gentle-ribbing included, and feats of mentalism that would surprise even the biggest skeptic – these are just a few of my take-aways from Brian Curry’s entertaining and wholly engaging show, The Good Liar. Great for a date night or even a family outing, The Good Liar pulls back the veil on some of the greatest mind-reading tricks around. For a briskly paced 60 minutes in which there is never a dull moment, Curry takes the audience along on a journey through card tricks, and other feats of mentalism, while keeping them in stitches. Never has being lied to been so much fun.
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Forget what you may have seen elsewhere or on television; there is no slick, show-biz persona at play here. Curry could pass for an affable middle manager or everyone’s favorite neighbor. In other words, he is just a regular guy, with a big smile who could put just about anyone at ease. He greets the earliest arrivals to the show, encouraging patrons to pick any seat in the small venue, indicating that they could be picked to interact with him onstage, no matter where they sit. He asks: “What was your childhood celebrity crush? Can you fix a strong mental image in your mind?” Of course, these questions will come up soon after the show begins.
Using a simple stage with a couple of writing pads and a few decks of cards, Curry begins his show declaring he is “DC’s most honest con man.” He also reminds the audience is just a few blocks from the White House, which makes him the second biggest liar in the neighborhood – one of only a few, veiled political jabs. Overall, Curry’s patter was clean, with very little political or overtly adult humor. (His website recommends for ages 15 and up and does not encourage small children to attend.)
Meet the magicians making Washington, DC the Magic Capital of America
Throughout the demonstrations of mind-reading, Curry’s quick comebacks and zingers landed nearly every time. One gentleman who came onstage to be a volunteer to demonstrate his lying technique had a particularly strong poker face whom Curry dubbed “Mana Lisa.”
The Good Liar closes January 18, 2020. DCTS details and tickets
Curry, from the start of his show, admits he is a liar not truly a psychic or a medium and to be wary of those who claim they are, hence the title “the good liar.” He masterfully exhibited an array of card tricks, such as correctly identifying random selections of playing cards – in order – having distributed them to a number of audience members. This trick was done while he solved a Rubik’s Cube with one hand! He did it right in front of me and I am still not sure how he did either trick.
And that, to me, is the fun of a show like this. It’s fun to be fooled and Curry is honestly good at doing just that.
The Good Liar Written and performed by Brian Curry . Produced by Curry at the Capital Hilton . Reviewed by Jeff Walker.
Brian Curry is an incredibly great magician and human!
He makes you laugh, he makes you wonder and he does it all with a smile.
One evening while speaking to him backstage at a venue in Gaithersburg, he stole my watch right off my wrist. I didn’t notice a thing! That one bit of trickery made me a fan for life!
I would Brian on the same plane as Steven Bargartze