With so much tension around the world and Catalonia currently having its fair share of political problems it felt great to escape, if only for a few hours to step in to a world of magic and mystery.
In Salou, the capital of Spain’s / Catalonia’s Costa Dorada, behind the dancing fountains and above the harbour restaurants is the House of Illusion.
Walking up the stairs to the theatre entrance and Houdini terrace I knew I was in for a special evening.
I was greeted with a warm welcome, an air of mystery already filling my senses.
I waited in anticipation to be seated at the front, a VIP area in the dimly lit theatre, at a table laden with drinks and surrounded by friends.
The show consisted of humor, hypnosis, magic and illusion as I was pulled into the acts of the performing magicians, though not quite as literally as some of the audience, taken on stage by the main magician, hypnotist and mind reader, Rodney James Piper.
The audience watched with awe and wonderment as he read minds, hypnotized and controlled movements, the occasional gasp escaping my lungs.
Tricks were performed with balloons, rings and they even split their assistant in half.
The lights and music always on cue.
Special highlights included Alexander Wells, as much for his charming appearance and well styled moustache as much as his magic, Glenn Bonnar’s highly amusing shadow puppet show and Rodney’s final speech.
An enthralling description explaining House of Illusion’s journey, through the expanding venues and the rise in audience numbers to see: “This group of magicians whom just want to perform.”
The current venue has changed many times over the years but has always been destined as an entertainment venue and performance area for well-known artists.
It now stages this magical sensation over four nights of the week.
As the curtains closed, the lights went down and the audience applauded.
The kids were all taken home to bed, the Houdini terrace still served drinks, overlooking Salou’s main seaside promenade.
A dram of whiskey with a cigar was to be the perfect end to a mysterious night.
