What I liked
I loved Rob’s angle with his storyline thread throughout his performance. Rather than make it feel like a “magic show” with “ta-da” moments, he weaved his mentalist moments through a tapestry of storytelling, personal anecdotes, and in-the-moment sarcastic humor. Throughout the show, he made every effort to connect with each guest, making them feel like he was performing just for them. He times the musical interludes beautifully with his stories of personal experiences while at the same time never slows down the enthusiasm of the moment. The show flew by and when he got to the end, there was a collective sound of disappointment as the entire audience could have just sat for hours and hours just listening to Rob talk, let alone do more mentalist tricks or singing. When I left, I couldn’t stop smiling, and thought two things to myself, “how did he do it?!” and “how do I get closer to my dreams that I wrote down?” Want to know more about that last part? Go to Becoming and find out for yourself!
What I didn't like
Overall, it was a well rehearsed yet comfortably improv’d set that made use of the space, the props, and the music beautifully. A couple of things to think about:
1) Consider wearing something a little more casual. The suit felt very disconnected from the warm and inclusive feeling to the show. When I think of a stereotypical mentalist or magic show, the idea of a magician in a suit comes to mind: your show is much more than that in its simplicity and casual feel. Consider black or blue jeans and a solid colored t shirt with those beautifully white sneakers (keep those!!) would match the vibe of the show.
2) This show worked beautifully in a small space. Just thinking about the future (because bigger and better things are destined for this show), how would you scale this performance? What if you were doing this on a bigger stage, on camera, with more physical distance away from your audience. How do you replicate that intimate show atmosphere in a ballroom with 5,000 people and still help people feel that same joy I felt in the small theatre space?
My overall impression
Charming. Captivating. Connected. Rob Polonsky’s “Becoming” ensured a permanent smile on my face throughout the show. His warm, engaging stage presence, coupled with his subtle mentalist tricks, created an experience that made you feel good and astonished at the same time.
