![\"Photo](\"http:\/\/itsnotaboutme.tv\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/SeeSaw-by-Lisa-Whiteman-1696-e1506396209289.jpg\")
<\/a>Photo of Siegfried Tieber by Lisa Whiteman, as is the big one at the top of the page.<\/p><\/div>\n
First let me tell you that I’ve seen an awful lot of magic in my time. In case some of you don’t already know this, I even starred as The Divided Lady in the country\u2019s largest traveling Big Top circus when I was a teenager! (Oysh–don’t ask! My mother even wishes she hadn’t at the time!) So when I tell you how amazing<\/em> this guy is, you have to trust me on it. I very, very, very rarely use that word! But Siegfried Tieber\u2019s magic is the kind of event that word should be reserved for!<\/p>\n I\u2019ll tell you about the entire almost-private See\/Saw<\/em> experience in a minute, but first I must rave about Siegfried himself. This guy is a genius!!! We all sat right up close to him, where nothing<\/em> was hidden, and I still have no idea how he did everything he did! (And his sleeves were rolled-up the whole time!) I can often figure-out how magicians perform their illusions, including several on America\u2019s Got Talent<\/em> that I can decipher right away. But, I swear\u2014Siegfried\u2019s sleight-of-hand does not look like \u201ctricks\u201d at all; what he does is, indeed, magic<\/em>!<\/p>\n His show is an hour of the most close-up magic I\u2019ve ever seen. It could’ve been a lot longer, in my book. And I think also in the books of the other twenty-three people in the audience with me that day! (That doesn\u2019t mean it was empty<\/em>\u2014there\u2019s a twenty-four person limit for each performance, to ensure that everyone has a perfect view of the action. That\u2019s one of the aspects of See\/Saw that makes it so special.)<\/p>\n Siegfried Tieber’s “FU” trophy from Penn and Teller. Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n I should have expected Siegfried\u2019s greatness; he won on Penn and Teller\u2019s television show on the CW, Fool Us<\/em>. Even they<\/em> could not figure out how he does what he does!<\/p>\n But his excellence is not just in the amazing tricks<\/em> that he does\u2014it\u2019s the total package. Siegfried is absolutely charming, delightful, personable, and talented–everything you would want in a close-up performer.<\/p>\n On top of all that, this show is very well-written. Siegfried keeps his well-thought-out patter going all the time. He even seems very happy to deliver it, although it must be his gazillionth time saying it all. I<\/em> could not even tell the same story twice<\/em> on my former TV show! I felt like I was copying from myself<\/em>! Of course, Siegfried amends it a bit each time, I\u2019m sure, to capture what\u2019s going on with the new people he\u2019s meeting there. And as with all<\/em> magic, every show is a little bit different, due to the energy of that particular audience.<\/p>\n As the first act went along, I was confused as to how he seemed to know everyone\u2019s name\u2014I thought maybe all his friends happened to show-up at that performance. But it turns out that he mingles with the crowd before each show, which I didn’t know because I was too busy chatting with my new twin besties! (More on them in a bit.)<\/p>\n Siegfried Tieber mingling with guests before a show. Photo by Lisa Whiteman.<\/p><\/div>\n And then he involves all the people there in his show pieces. Not even one audience member is left-out of the interactive, intimate, very-close-up adventure.<\/p>\n The whole hour (plus a little bit) show, with an intermission, is all card tricks. But since he takes questions from the audience at different points in the action, he can change his schedule a bit at will. When I was there, one man asked him what his favorite trick is, and he on the spot showed us one with money, that I promise you was not at all planned! (But that meant that we missed-out on a scheduled<\/em>\u00a0one because he had to finish somewhat on time. Darn. If I had time in my uber-busy schedule, I would go see the show again, and not just to see the \u201cred car trick!\u201d)<\/p>\n I was up all night after I saw See\/Saw<\/em>, mulling-over the entire experience, so I have to review that for you, as well.<\/p>\n An absolutely terrible picture (because the photog didn’t listen when we said to use a flash!,) of Karen Salkin (in the middle, of course,) with Dahlia and Dia Taquali. Photo by INAM staff.<\/p><\/div>\n The only real<\/em> surprise is the magic of Siegfried Tieber. But there’s one more that I don\u2019t want to spoil for you, but I must, to tell you this story. So, if you\u2019re planning on seeing the show in its limited run in downtown L. A., skip down to the next paragraph. Otherwise, continue here. Okay, ready\u2014I finally met my twin! Actually, both<\/em> of them. And now were triplets! Dahlia and Dia Taquali are the two adorable girls who usher you into the theatre, but separately. Only the most astute among us realize that they\u2019re twins, which means that I\u2019m<\/em> the only one who ever figured it out!!! People are so unaware. So, not only do I love, love, love twins, in general, but these girls are darling. And<\/em> they\u2019re rocking my super-long, fringed hair!!! Which means that we\u2019re now triplets<\/em>! And, at twenty-five-years-old, we\u2019re also the same age! What a fun way to start-out the See\/Saw<\/em> adventure!<\/p>\n The arrow points to the secret entrance. Photo courtesy of Atlas Obscura.<\/p><\/div>\n The show takes place in an interesting edifice downtown. According to the producers, it\u2019s in a \u201csecret hide-away, nestled inside the former office of criminal defense attorney Max Solomon,\u201d who worked with Bugsy Siegel and Mickey Cohen. (Oysh.) Now<\/em> it’s a production studio and cultural center for artists and musicians, so hopefully no machine guns hidden somewhere on the premises. The entrance is like \u201cJoe sent me\u201d in a parking lot! It\u2019s right near the secret steps down to The Birds and Bees, which is the crazy subterranean speakeasy whose opening I reviewed here a few months ago.<\/p>\n The bar in the show room. Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n Then there\u2019s the attire notice\u2014all audience members are \u201cencouraged\u201d to wear \u201ccocktail attire,\u201d even for the matinees! At first, I thought that was crazy, but when I saw how nice we all looked, I was very pleased. That made it a bit more special. I think they\u00a0were inspired by\u00a0the Magic Castle model, where no one is allowed in unless they\u2019re dressed-up, per the private club\u2019s dress code. I guess all people in the world of magic want it to be a classy journey, and I applaud them for that.<\/p>\n For the imbibers out there, there\u2019s a small, attractive bar right in the room, at which you can grab a drink before the show or at intermission. The start time is announced as such to give the assemblage a bit of time to peruse the small exhibits that line the walls of the show area. Those are comprised of all interesting artifacts from Siegfried’s personal collection, including his \u201cFU\u201d trophy for fooling Penn and Teller on Fool Us<\/em>. And then, of course, everyone can stay afterwards to chat with Siegfried, as I<\/em> did, for, I\u2019m sure, longer than he would have liked! (I\u2019m kidding about that\u2014we really had a lot to discuss, especially since we have several acquaintances in common, so we could have gabbed for the rest of the day! But, luckily for him, he had another show to do right after.)<\/p>\n The neon wall art in Grand Central Market. Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n The only time slot I could get tickets for was at 4 PM on Saturday. (That\u2019s the sole matinee, by the way\u2014the rest of the shows are at night, including one late night, which I imagine must be sooo fun!!!) I was not thrilled about that early time at first, but once inside, I was good. Siegfried\u2019s show actually made me forget about time altogether! But when my friend and I drove away down the block on the way home, the evening got even better! That\u2019s because I spied Grand Central Market! I had hardly even been aware of its existence, and had just only recently even heard of it, even though it’s been around for a hundred years now! And so have I!!! So, if you really want to make a night of it, I suggest eating there before or after the show. (I think after<\/em> is better because I was literally in a food coma\u2014I got into bed as soon as I got home…at 9:30PM! On a Saturday night, no less! That, from a party chick!!!)<\/p>\n What Penn Jillette said about Siegfried Tieber. Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n I really had a wonderful time at See\/Saw<\/em>, on every level. So, I hope that if you\u2019re one of my SoCal readers, that you do the same. And soon\u2014this is a very limited engagement! And I have a real feeling that within the next year, Siegfried will be too famous to be able to do intimate shows like this anymore! From my mouth to God\u2019s ears.<\/p>\n See\/Saw<\/em> running through October 15, 2017<\/strong> SEE\/SAW: AN IMMERSION INTO A MAGICIAN\u2019S MIND I love being able to give a good review, and, sadly, I don’t often have that chance. But this is one of those happy occasions. The magic of Ecuadorean-born Siegfried Tieber is indeed\u2026 magical!!! Trust me, if you are in L.A. in the next month or so, you<\/p>\n<\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a>
\n Civic Center Studios<\/strong>
\n 207 S. Broadway in DTLA\u00a0 www.atlasobscura.com\/events\/seesaw<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"