Penn & Teller

Breaking all the rules

By Mandy Hoskison

At Penn & Teller's show, magic tricks are no longer top secret. Or are they?

Debunking age-old foolery, the fast-talking, sly Penn and the silent, demure Teller back up their motto of revealing the truth while lying and cheating.

With a giant catalog of tricks to choose from, Penn and Teller put their signature spin on magic, even revealing a few of the secrets along the way. After all, the two are known for breaking the rules, but even after Penn has explained how a trick is performed in his own twisted way, the audience is left just as puzzled as before. For example, he details that psychic readings are fake while reading an audience member's mind and he is able to juggle broken, jagged bottles of liquor without incident.

A Penn & Teller show is filled with magic but it is also somewhat educational and funny. There is plenty of audience participation and audience members should keep in mind Penn's philosophy that "anyone seated in the back must be punished." Even those in the balcony aren't safe from becoming part of the show. Many guests are randomly plucked to go on stage to participate in acts or to just verify the authenticity of a trick. Even in their large, custom-built theater, Penn & Teller manage to establish a close connection with the audience.

Jazz pianist Mike Jones accompanies a few of the pieces, adding to the uniqueness of the show. Arrive early and you can enjoy a set of music by The Mike Jones Duo while the theater fills up.

Although a cutting edge show, the monologue is surprisingly clean, with the exception of the occasional plug of their hit Showtime series "Bullsh--t," a show that expounds further on Penn & Teller's philosophy of proving common beliefs wrong.

The two couldn't be more opposite, but they complement each other perfectly. They have been performing as a duo for over 30 years together, with the last five of those being at the Rio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. Even while they utilize tricks they have been performing their entire careers, the two keep it fresh, always working up new acts and infusing a bit of current events into Penn's running commentary.

The exciting 90-minute show includes some of the duo's most well-known acts like Teller's uncanny ability to remain silent while performing some of the most intriguing stunts in the show, and their infamous magic bullet trick, which is sure to leave you shocked and amazed.