Full of confusion and illusion, Shawn Farquhar’s Cabaret of Wonders is back for its last installment of the season — and with an international roster of magicians, it might be the most phenomenal performance yet! On Apr. 21 Shawn Farquhar will once again be perplexing audiences at the Chilliwack Cultural Centre, this time with a little help from England and Germany.
Described by Farquhar as “one of the finest magicians in the world,” Axel Hecklau is making the trek from Berlin, Germany to Chilliwack, and he’s bringing his magic along with him. With over 30 years of experience perfecting his skills and performances in nearly 50 cities across the globe, Hecklau has built a reputation as one of the top magicians, not only in Germany but world-wide.
In the 15 magic competitions he has participated in, he left 14 with prizes, including second place for grand illusion from the International Federation of Magic Societies. Only last month Hecklau claimed the first place prize for parlour magic in the European Championship of magicians. For the past 13 years Hecklau has been performing weekly at the Close-Up Club, his own close-up magic show in Berlin. Well versed in multiple forms, Hecklau is best known for his high impact, close-up, parlour, and stage magic.
Also from Europe, Keith Fields will have the crowd in stitches with his hilarious performance style. Originally from England but now residing in the United States, Fields still incorporates a little bit of home into every one of his performances, and is known for his highly comedic shows which he regularly includes the audience in.
“Comedy and magic are a shared experience; you cannot do either by yourself,” he said. “I want to help people forget their worries for a while, make them laugh, then encourage them to share the laughter. If we all laughed a little more, the world would be a better place.” Fields regularly performs his highly successful show “A Brit of Magic” in theatres, but he’s brought it on cruise lines, including Disney, Silver Seas, and Princess, as well, and has even made appearances on TV shows including ITV’s Catchphrase and BBC’s The Happening.
And, of course, Shawn Farquhar will be performing as well. In his multi-decade long career, Farquhar has compiled an impressive list of accomplishments: he’s the only magician to have fooled Penn and Teller twice on their TV show Penn & Teller: Fool Us; he’s wowed Ellen DeGeneres on her talk show; he’s won first place for sleight of hand and stage magic at the World Magic Championships; and he was even named the Grand Prix World Champion of Magic from the International Federation of Magic Societies. Farquhar’s magic has been showcased on TV shows including the X-Files and FOX’s Fringe, and he performed on cruise lines including the Norwegian Star, Radiance of the Sea, and Disney.
Shawn Farquhar’s Cabaret of Magic series has also drawn the attention of the magic industry and the final show this season will be tied to the combined convention for the Pacific Coast Association of Magicians – which incorporates chapters from around the entire Pacific Rim, (including Japan, Hawaii, California, and Western Canada), and the Canadian Association of Magicians - dedicated to the promotion and encouragement of magic and magicians in Canada and the world. So if you see some mind bending illusions around town don’t be surprised as there will be over 100 magicians in our community celebrating all things magical!
This stellar combination of magicians is sure to result in one of the best Cabaret of Wonders yet — this time with an international twist! And with one of the most sensational lineups yet, the show is sure to sell out — so get your tickets before they disappear!
Shawn Farquhar’s Cabaret of Wonders – VIII is coming to the Chilliwack Cultural Centre’s Rotary Hall Studio Theatre on April 21 for two shows: one at 7:30 p.m. and one at 10 p.m. for the late night crowd. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased at the Centre Box Office, online at www.chilliwackculturalcentre.ca, or by calling 604-391-SHOW(7469).