CULTURE

Hi... Hi there.
Yesterday was my birthday! I want to thank everyone that sent me Happy Birthday greetings... they really meant a lot to me!
Also, thank you to my sister Liz for posting a Birthday blog about me. And to my brother Mark for posting a Simple Minds video on my facebo-LAAAA LA LAA LA LAAAAA, LAAAA LA LA LAAAA, LAA LAAA LAAA LAAA LAAA LAAA LAAA LAA LAA LAAAAAA!!

What did I do for my birthday, you ask? Well, I'll answer. I'm going to tell you about the show I went to last night. Because I promised Neil that I would. Literally.



(From the website):
In every performance of Supernatural Chicago, Neil Tobin, Necromancer introduces theatergoers to some of Chicago’s most well documented paranormal events, brought to life through storytelling and interactive demonstrations of mindreading, magic and other phenomena that involve the audience in memorable ways.

The interactive experience begins the moment audience members enter Excalibur. The building that houses Excalibur has been cited repeatedly by paranormal investigators and such TV shows as A&E’s Sightings as one the most haunted locations in Chicago. Asks the Necromancer, “What better place to lift a drink, soak up some haunting stories about our city, and explore the unexplained?”

Here is what I have to say:

Supernatural Chicago is set in the deliciously nerdy Medieval Times turned nightclub, Excalbur (almost as rad as buying a church in Salem, MA, painting it black and then chaining the front doors shut because it's "Not a Church. Get Over It"). Once inside, and after a $25 ticket (which includes TWO drinks), Neil Tobin, Necromancer and Snagglepuss enthusiast introduces theatergoers to a tour du force performance of magic trickery, "leading the witness" psychic readings, aura cleansing and ghost stories.

The interactive experience begins the moment you see the black crushed velvet back drops, white gauze decorative hangings, strategically placed candles and billboard with 11 x 14 matted photos of the paranormal nestled atop an easel for visual learners to enjoy. Not to be outdone by the decor, the soundtrack has been carefully selected using a Casio keyboard and a "Halloween Sounds" cassette tape.

In short... this performance was not as creepy as I would have liked. Neil used slight of hand and shit tons of card tricks to engage the audience. I noted his "psychic abilities" of leading the witness when he would want people to agree with him to prove a point. He would make a horrible lawyer.
Nevertheless, he is a commanding performer with a wonderful lilt to his voice that, as mentioned earlier can only be matched by Snagglepuss, who is in fact... a gay cartoon cat with a lisp. Neil didn't have a lisp. But, I daresay he was the best actor in his High School Drama Department. Okay, don't get me started on talented thespians who have found their way into the world of guided tours. I love them all and can't list them here now... but I will. Someday I will.
I was hoping that, with the space provided there would be some "supporting" actors to dress up like ghosts and sneak up behind people or something... but, no. Neil, if you ever want to pepper your shows with additional live performances let me know, I'm really good at pretending to be a ghost.



I would definitely recommend this show to anyone interested in the occult or cheesy thespian magic performances. If you want to be scared by this show, it won't happen. Probably the only people that can be scared by this show are under 8 years old and/or your Aunt Jan from North Carolina who is a god fearing Christian woman and does not believe in ghosts... that's evil. That's just the devil, y'all. He's evil.

So, Supernatural Chicago... you get 2 1/2 thumbs up out of 5.
(Thumbs up graphics to come later)