By JESSICA NEU
Magic is one of those concepts that can be interpreted and defined in a myriad of ways. Magic is a personal concept that can correlate to anything from hope to the daily mundane to coincidences or a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Although he never expresses it outright, magician Nick Diffatte finds magic in humor. Diffatte brings his show, Offbeat: A Comedy Magic Show, to Liberty Magic for their second residency of the 2024-25 season. Fresh from a 300-show residency in Las Vegas, Diffatte brings his unique interpretation of magic to Pittsburgh. This unique and refreshing show offers audiences a light-hearted evening as Diffatte is equal parts mystifying magician and side-splitting stand-up comedian.
I have had the pleasure of seeing numerous magicians at Liberty Magic, and Diffatte is the first that I have seen who did not touch a playing card during his entire 65-minute show. I love a good card trick, but Diffatte’s tricks will still leave you as dumbfounded as any Ace of Spades, somehow transforming into the Queen of Diamonds. The genius in Diffatte’s show is how he finds space in the “offbeat.” The “offbeat” are the moments when a magic trick is in progress, and you may feel that the trick has reached its fruition, but it, in fact, has not. You are unsure whether to tense up, laugh, ponder, or become skeptical. Diffatte fills each offbeat with comedy, thus granting the audience permission to laugh and belly laugh. The laughing is where you are bent over and grabbing the thigh of the person next to you. It is the kind of tension relief found in brilliant comedy television or film writing. Throughout Diffatte’s set, I could not help but think of Sheldon Cooper’s character in The Big Bang Theory. Sheldon was occasionally serious, but the show’s writers never let you get to the point of emotional doom without bringing the moment back to a space of comedic relief. Any time a moment becomes tense or uncertain, Diffatte interjects the perfect amount of comedy to reassure audiences that they are in a safe place yet still witnessing the fantastical.
Diffatte combines hilarious scripted jokes with brilliant improv comedy that resembles an episode of Whose Line Is It Anyway? Diffatte’s quick wit and self-admitted nerd-like charm shine as he incorporates the audience into his routine. He plays off of audience members’ personalities and finds several unsuspecting characters to serve as comedic throughlines for his entire show. This extemporaneous aspect of the show assures that no two performances will be the same, but it also speaks to Diffatte’s talent as both an impromptu comedian and a magician. He bravely incorporates audience members into illusion and mentalism tricks that involve everything from caution tape to several dollar bills to someone’s ring and even expiration dates. Diffatte keeps you guessing and laughing throughout his entire set. He deviates from other magicians in that his set is equal parts magic and comedy, so much so that he devotes a whole skit or “offbeat” to a group of willing and unwilling audience participants engaging in a sketch comedy act you must see to believe. Diffatte morphs his wit, cheekiness, sense of humor, and talent into an unapologetically fun hour-plus set. He never promises to be the slickest or most dazzling magician you have ever seen. However, this “student body president” look-alike will charm your inner magical heart like pommel horse champion Stephen Nedoroscik charmed our Olympic hearts. Diffatte fills a space in our hearts that we never realized was missing. That space is the offbeat. In times of darkness, solitude, doubt, or fear, comedy and magic live in the offbeat. May we recognize and find that space whenever necessary. Darkness is temporary; laughter and magic are constant.
TICKETS AND DETAILS
Liberty Magic prtresents Nick Diffatte in Offbeat: A Comedy Magic Show at Liberty Magic now through Sunday, December 1, 2024. For tickets visit: https://trustarts.org/production/95904/list_performances
Liberty Magic is a project of the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust.
Categories: Arts and Ideas, Reviews
Leave a Reply Cancel reply