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The Mentalizer

The lovely Amanda Scarpone writes in today’s Broadway World, “No matter where you stand on the ?magic? issue, come out and see The Mentalizer ? it will leave you speechless.” But how does she really feel about the new off-Broadway show starring Ehud Segev a/k/a The Mentalizer?

You know you have made it as a performer when you are used as an adjective or an adjectival phrase. By that standard, David Copperfield has made it. Ms. Scarpone writes, “[t]he Mentalizer is so much more than your typical David Copperfield magic show because there is so much less.”

Where Copperfield plays to full-houses of thousands, Mr. Segev entertains 30 or so folks without the benefit of computer controlled lighting, traps, flying scene changes, or even a theater. He performs his magic in what Ms. Scarpone describes as “a simple apartment turned performance space.”

The simplicity of the presentation adds to the mystery. In fact, Ms. Scarpone observes, “The simplicity of the setting brings so much more credibility to the performance that it becomes frustrating. It’s frustrating since the audience sees unfathomable things happening right before their eyes and it’s genius because the “magic” being performed is mainly on the audience, not on fancy props that can always be in question.”

So who is this young man of mystery and why doesn’t he have a fast-cut, highly-edited television series on ABC yet?

Mr. Segev’s study of Kabala, a school of Jewish mysticism, fosters not only his religious belief but serves as an inspiration for his performance pieces.

Given the pastiche of opinions, activities, accidents, and views of reality, there is an unexamined manner in which all can fit together. The young man claims no special powers in his performance, only ‘connections.’ He doesn’t even argue his ‘connections’ are super natural. “He doesn?t believe that these connections are super natural powers, but rather, powers that are so natural, they are super natural.”

The intimate setting in which The Mentalizer performs ensures audience members will have a fantastic view of all effects but will also likely be chosen to assist in one.

Ms. Scarpone describes herself as “the habitual skeptic” and yet writes she was “blown away and slightly frightened at what I just witnessed.”

So who is Mr. Segev? Ms. Scarpone opines he is the Jewish David Blaine. Actually, we think David Blaine is also Jewish so he would technically be the Jewish David Blaine, but Mr. Segev could be the Jewish Mystic David Blaine.

The Mentalizer runs every Tuesday night at 8pm in the Paradox Space located at 118 West 27th Street on the 2nd Floor, between 6th and 7th Avenues. Please call 212-352-3101 for tickets. All proceeds from the show are donated. Various charities include Feed the Children, The Multiple Sclerosis Society, City Harvest and tsunami victims amongst others.

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The Mentalizer

So who is this young man of mystery and why doesn’t he have a fast-cut, highly-edited television series on ABC yet?

Mr. Segev’s study of Kabala, a school of Jewish mysticism, fosters not only his religious belief but serves as an inspiration for his performance pieces.

The intimate setting in which The Mentalizer performs ensures audience members will have a fantastic view of all effects but will also likely be chosen to assist in one.

Ms. Scarpone describes herself as “the habitual skeptic” and yet writes she was “blown away and slightly frightened at what I just witnessed.”

Check out Mr. Segev’s website to view an impressive list of clients and accolades as well as an interesting discussion of his life in Jewish Mysticism.