There’s magic in laughter and certainly in love. And then there’s Lady Sarah and Keith Fields, owners of Michigan's only magic dinner theatre – The Magic Soiree in Troy (TheMagicSoiree.com).
This is a night of sophisticated shenanigans, illusions and sleight of hand, led by this British-born couple who have found celebrity in silliness.
Or perhaps it's cleverly disguised genius. Either way, they pack the show night after night, fulfilling their desire to change the world, one laugh at a time.
So, what’s the trick?
“Lots of experience,” Sarah laughs. “We’ve been in magic for 40 years and together for 32. Magic has taken us further than we ever imagined. Is that fair to say?”
Keith’s deadpan response: “Yes. We went to Monroe once.”
They’ve gone much further, actually, performing at the exclusive Magic Castle in Hollywood, showrooms in Vegas and local favorites like Mark Ridley's Comedy Castle and One Night Stans.
It's more than a passion; they live to make people laugh. Lady Sarah, daughter of a playwright, has been performing since she was 5. Keith started as a street magician before headlining English comedy clubs.
“I went to see his very first comedy show,” she recalls. “I worked for an ad agency, he was starting his comedy career and the rest is history.”
Keith can’t resist. “Well, it’s all over the place, so it’s geography, actually.”
One must ask, why Troy? The idea was birthed while the couple enjoyed a theatre residency in Gatlinburg, Tenn.
“After traveling the country and internationally, we asked ourselves, ‘Wouldn’t it be nice to have a venue here at home?’ After all, Troy is a sophisticated community and they should have something to appreciate.”
Adds Keith in a rare serious moment, “We’re in love with Troy. If you live here, you become an evangelist for it.”
So, they created a hilarious magic experience and called Camp Ticonderoga home. For the first half of the evening, you experience the fun close-up, with magicians performing right at your table.
But the real jewel is when Lady Sarah and Keith Fields take the floor with their cabaret act. I won’t spill the secrets or spoil the fun by revealing what’s next, but it’s safe to say you’ll never look at toilet paper or a ukulele again without thinking of The Magic Soiree.
“We work hard to develop a show that’s as much about us being us as it is about the magic,” says Keith. “Magic is the structure on which we hang our personalities and our sense of humor. We’ll take you on a roller coaster ride.”
When that ride comes to an end, you’ll be weak from laughter, enthralled by the mystery and stuffed from the delicious dinner buffet prepared by the chefs at Camp Ticonderoga.
“We want the audience to want to be our best friends. We’re genuinely interested in people. Life’s crummy out there right now, so it’s good to make people happy.”
Keith chimes in: “They say if you can make one person smile at the end of the day, well, you’re not a very good comedian.”
“It’s so good to have a giggle, isn’t it?” Lady Sarah smiles.
For tickets to the best show in Troy, visit TheMagicSoiree.com. Shows book quickly, so reserve tickets early.