Do you believe in magic? How about intuition, ESP, déjà vu and hypnosis? Well, Belinda Sinclair’s PHENOMENA: False Evidence Appearing Real may not convert the unbeliever, but it will make you respect her sleight of hand and other deftly drawn demonstrations.

Rooted in mysticism and philosophical investigation but making great show of both magical skill and the modern miracle of instant gratification via technology, Ms. Sinclair’s PHENOMENA is as much a meeting of the generations as it is a bending of the mind. She does traditional tricks, like producing birds out of thin air, picking cards from a deck, and moving coins around, but the heart of her performance is far more cerebral than fanciful. She is not afraid to expose the mathematics behind the magic, and she is just as quick to indulge her own acting bug by portraying some female magicians of yore. Quite a mixed bag to be sure, but one that works.

More than a magic show, PHENOMENA is best described as a multi-media and multi-discipline showcase for creator Belinda Sinclair. A practitioner steeped in tradition but emblematic of the modern generation, Ms. Sinclair, by her very existence, may very well redefine what it means to be a magician.

- Kessa De Santis -

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