REVIEW: Helder Guimarães, who already conquered the present, heads into ‘The Future’
Photo: The Future, written and performed by Helder Guimarães, is a centerpiece of the Geffen Stayhouse’s Zoom performances. Photo courtesy of Catarina Marques / Provided by the Geffen with permission.
Master magician Helder Guimarães knows how to tell a good story. The celebrated performer, whose performance art has been seen in cities around the world, has a long-standing relationship with the Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles, and during the pandemic he has partnered with the theater company and taken his illusions online for a series of thought-provoking and fascinating performances.
His first entry in the Geffen “Stayhouse” repertoire was The Present, which kicked off a remarkable year of Zoom performances from the theater company. That sold-out hit was extended several times, and it seems to have only ended its run to make way for Guimarães’ next show, The Future, which is playing an extended run through March 14.
In this new show, Guimarães invites the viewer to follow him on a journey that is best kept a secret. Throughout the 80-minute performance he tells personal stories about his life and one particular friend, all as an appetizer to some scrumptious illusions that seem to defy logic and common sense. What’s so memorable about The Future is that many of Guimarães’ magic tricks this time around involve each and every audience member, meaning the wonderment is felt even more intimately and believably.
When an audience member (either an individual or an entire household) purchases a ticket to The Future, they are sent a mystery package in the mail that contains a cylindrical box that is not meant to be opened before the performance. Ticket-buyers then log in to Zoom on the evening of their show, and Guimarães takes over with clear, concise instructions. Much like The Present, the audience is able to see other members of this virtual crowd, and the energy and wonder are heightened by the collective reactions of everyone on the online platform.
Guimarães’ performance pieces over the years have always been carefully constructed and ultimately based in storytelling. He loves to spin a yarn about family, friends and his travels throughout life. Many of these tales have heartwarming finales that somehow tie into the magic trick he’s about to present. In many ways, it would seem that illusion is a metaphor for the ups and downs of Guimarães’ life and even the lives of the spectators.
The Geffen has had a banner year with Zoom performances. Besides Guimarães’ two works, the “Stayhouse” is also presenting the true-crime whodunnit Citizen Detective and the puzzling Inside the Box, both selling fast and both extended. Their offerings are not traditional theater pieces — like a Shakespeare play or Chekhov drama — but instead they are breaking down barriers on both the message and the medium. They are elevating art forms like magic, puzzle-solving and murder mysteries by constructing original shows that always show an appreciation for theatrical artistry. At the center of their mission is Guimarães and his mind-blowing illusions that are the perfect antidote to these COVID-19 days.
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
The Future, written and performed by Guimarães, is playing an extended run at the Geffen Stayhouse through March 14. Frank Marshall directs the 80-minute production. Click here for more information and tickets.
