Reviews of the Gamesters' Show
Manhattan Magic

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Mesmerizing mix
The Gamesters combine music, magic, and merriment in 'Manhattan Magic' at the Sands
By Sandy Posnak

Wow!  The Gamesters have brought a refreshingly unique show to Atlantic City.  Judging form the show's title ­ Manhattan Magic ­ one could conceivably presume that it's primarily a magic show.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  Manhattan Magic, in the Sands Copa Room through October 31, is actually a full-scale Broadway-style production with nine dancers, a colorful array of costumes, fantastic sets, inventive props and lots and lots of comedy.  Some think of it as mime and others may perceive it as old-fashioned slapstick comedy reminiscent of legendary comedians such as Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, and Laurel and Hardy.  Laughter and applause heard on the night that we reviewed the indicated that most audience members found it to be very funny.

Yes, there is mind-boggling magic interspersed throughout the 75-minute production, but it's primarily utilized to advance the show's lively storyline, which involves two silent, surreptitious characters (The Gamesters, a.k.a. Seth Yudof and Douglas Leferovich) who romp about Manhattan trying to retrieve an ever-elusive attaché case filled with money.  Their escapades take them to places such as the Empire Lounge at 42nd and Broadway where they dance with beautiful girls; a park bench in Central Park, and to rooftops, manholes and trashcans.  At each location they perform a distinctive illusion that ties in with the story's theme.  Now we're not talking about making doves appear form out of nowhere, pulling rabbits from black top hats or other hackneyed acts of magic.  "We literally engineered and designed most of the illuison in the show," Seth told us following the performance.  "And most of the ones that we didn't design were custom made for us ­ you can't just walk into a store and pick them off a shelf."  He added, "We use the magic to forward the story line in the same way that a song is used in a Broadway musical.  The integrity of the show relies much more on its classic styles of comedy and dance than it does on its magic tricks."

Manhattan Magic has a marvelous sound track of diverse music ranging from the swinging sounds of Big Bad Voodoo Daddy's "Go Daddy-O" "Who's That Creepin'?" and "Mambo Swing" to Frank Sinatra's "Witchcraft" and the Andrews Sisters' "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy of Company B."

Yudof and Leferovich met when both were students at the University of Pennsylvania.  During their college years they appeared in school productions and also did graphics and production work for plays.  Even at that time they harbored thoughts of someday producing and starring in their own production.  After graduation (Seth received an engineering degree; Douglas graduated with a degree in marketing) they moved to Los Angeles where they worked in their respective professions by day and spent nights and weekends perfecting The Gamesters' act.

Twelve months after arriving in California they performed for the first time professionally as The Gamesters at a corporate event.  Early in their career they were named the first-ever winners of an originality award from the Society of American Magicians.  Soon after that they starred for three months in Jokers Wild in a California venue.  This led to weekly stint on Fox TV's, Fox Kids.

But with all of their success Seth and Doug still aspired to write, produce, and star in their very own production.  This burning desire led to their taking a two-year hiatus from stage appearances in order to pursue this goal.  Two weeks ago their dreams came true with the opening of Manhattan Magic in the Sands Copa Room.

The Gamesters didn't play games when it came to assembling show principals.  They hired renowned choreographer Joshua Bergasse to choreograph the show, and Broadway costume designer Charlene Alexis Gross to design the costumes.  Set design chores were awarded to Andy Warfel, who sets have been featured in Footloose and other New York productions.  Set construction was by Hudson Scenic Studio, the same company whose sets are seen on Broadway in The Producers, The Loin King, and Les Miserables.

Bergasse had choreographed numerous Broadway and off-Broadway productions.  "We auditioned 150 dancers for the dance roles in Manhattan Magic and then we picked the nine best dancers," he told s during a chat following the show.  The dance troupe has some local ties.  It includes Holly Lindauer, a native of Nearby Hamilton, NJ and Nicole Foret, who starred in A Place For Love, a 1997 Atlantic City Film Festival winner.

Manhattan Magic mesmerizes audiences with music, mirth, magic and two zany young men who have perfected the art of making people happy.  Seth is the one in the royal blue suit and a fedora of matching color; Doug's the guy in a red outfit with a classic red bowler atop his dark hair.  They go to the rear of the theater to greet audience members following each show and invite their fans to stop by to say "hi."

Manhattan Magic a successful combination of illusions and entertainment
By Donald B. Kravitz
Atlantic City Current

Manhattan Magic may sound like just another magic show, but in reality it is a fresh concept for the stars Seth Yudof and Douglas Leferovich, better known as the "Gamesters."

Bringing their new format to the Copa Room in the Sands Casino, the production, which runs through Oct. 31, combines magic and comedy, a specialty of the Gamesters, with a group of exceptional dancers, adding a whole new dimension to their show.

The two men combine a silent, slapstick style of comedy, reminiscent of Laurel & Hardy, with illusions that keep the audience constantly entertained and asking the question, "How did they do that?"

Manhattan Magic also goes a step further.  The central theme throughout the evening was for them to hold on to a suitcase of cash, and hold on they did through thick and thin, adding to the fun.

Eclectic sets, depicting locations in New York like a swanky club located at 42nd and Broadway, Central Park, and roof tops, provide the backdrop for the costuming and dance numbers.  Joshua Bergasse was called in to choreograph the show and Alexis Gross did a fine job with the costumes.

The dance portions of the show are an outstanding interlude that intertwines illusion with dance.  The routines depict many different styles of dance, from Mambo to Swing to the Andrews Sisters and Bette Midler's "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy of Company B," adding a breath of vitality to the revue.

"The Gamesters" themselves have appeared in Atlantic City in the past as an opening act, but never as the pivotal portion of a total revue style show.

"We had to rethink our performance to fit this style show.  We re-designed most of the illusions to fit the production.  Those we didn't design we had custom-produced for us," said Leferovich.

Leferovich and Yudof are very familiar with the area, as they met while students at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.

On their way to receiving their degrees, (Yudof has an engineering degree, while Leferovich received his degree in marketing), they were both involved in stage and behind the scenes in some school productions.

Getting their professional start in California doing corporate events, the Gamesters name was born.

Manhattan Magic represents the first opportunity for Leferovich and Yudof to star in their own production.  With the two of them as the main characters, supported by a group of nine energetic dancers, Manhattan Magic offers a diverse evening of entertainment with something for everyone no matter what age.
 

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