The stately 1920’s Hotel Casa Del Mar, which sits right on the sand in Santa Monica, is always a magical place to visit. But never more so than when Derek Hughes is in residence. A “modern conjurer” and comedian, he’s performing a show he calls Insomnia in a private suite on a half-dozen dates over the next few months. I caught a preview performance of Insomnia and it’s both astonishing and charming. The space where Hughes works his magic is limited to 50 guests, giving you a close-up view of the goings on and a chance to participate. Still,
even that intimate peek provides no clue as to how he pulls off his wizardry. There isn’t smoke and mirrors here; it’s a more subdued, witty and cerebral performance. Hughes rips a newspaper into shreds and then, with a flip and a flounce, makes it intact again. He has an audience member pick a card from a deck and it later shows up in a sealed parcel that has been sitting, untouched, across the stage. He does remarkable acts of mindreading and memory and an astonishing rope trick. I won’t say any more, because I don’t want to give any of the fun away.
What’s pretty magical, too, is how affordable the evening is: The hour-long performance is $55, which includes a wine and beer reception and valet parking. “The show is loosely inspired by the short fiction of Jorge Luis Borges,” Hughes says. “It blends humor, magic, and audience participation. I titled the performance Insomnia because when you leave, you will be too mystified to sleep, and too amused to care.” That’s a great state for people attending daylong meeting, which makes Hughes would be a perfect entertainer for corporate groups. For more information, visit his website.
