Grade: A
As the show reached its end, Penn and Teller prepared the audience, as well as themselves, for their trademark bullet catch.
Penn described it very simply: to move a bullet from one side of the stage to the other. In actuality, they shoot a bullet into each other's mouths.
After asking two volunteers to inspect a bullet, signing both the tip of the bullet, as well as the casing, the volunteers then inspected the gun. The volunteers stepped offstage and Penn and Teller carefully took aim and prepared to shoot.
Penn loudly yelled "ears" to warn the audience for the loud sound, and seconds later, the tip of the bullets lay between the teeth of both Penn and Teller.
This ended the show the audience clearly enjoyed. Applause was endless as both Penn and Teller sprinted offstage and outside to begin signing autographs.
The evening's performance began as audience members walked in and were able to walk onstage to examine two boxes, one a simple wooden crate with several locks, and the other a simple Plexiglas box.
As the show began and Penn and Teller stepped onstage, Teller proceeded to step into the Plexiglas box which had been placed in the wooden crate. The trick was only for Teller to climb out of the boxes. Then Penn began to explain a little about magic.
"Magicians aren't supposed to tell you how they do the magic trick ... it's a rule of the artist," he said.
This trick, as Penn described it, was really not a trick at all, but it relied on the honor system. He asked audience members to close their eyes, thus making the trick more enjoyable.
"If you watch and want to see tricks you'll never be able to figure out, then close your eyes," he said. "If you keep your eyes closed, this bit can be anything you want it to be."
After Teller crawled out of the box, Penn explained they have moved more toward the field of religion, and that Teller possessed sub-natural powers. These powers proved to be nothing more than being able to take a piece of cloth that had been cut into two pieces and rejoin them.
The real magic in Penn and Teller's act was not just the unexplainable events, but all the talk and jargon that went along with it. During one bit, Penn strapped himself into a straight jacket and stepped in to a hangman's noose, and said he could free himself.
While Penn focused on freeing himself, behind a curtain where his feet and legs were still visible, Teller set to entertaining the audience with shadow puppets.
After several minutes, Teller decided the step ladder on which Penn was standing was vital to his shadow puppets, and pulled the step ladder out in front of the screen, causing Penn to dangle from the noose. More time passed, and the stage went black. Moments later the lights came back on and Penn was standing unharmed, yet still in the straight jacket.
To finish off the trick, Penn asked for a drink of water and easily removed his hand to receive the drink.
In the second act, Teller brought an American flag on stage while Penn told of the liberties the flag represents and questioned weather the symbolism of the flag still exists if the flag does not.
With this, Teller produced a copy of the Bill of Rights, which contains all for which the flag stands. The pair folded the flag and placed it in the Bill of Rights that had been rolled into a cone. With a flash of fire, they burned the flag, yet the Bill of Rights remained unharmed.
It was at this point of the show when Penn and Teller revealed a more serious side.
"Sometimes we tell the truth from the bottom of our hearts, and sometimes we lie, and cheat and swindle, but it's up to you to decide the difference," Penn said.
The two talked about their act, and potential consequences if they were to perform it in another country.
"We are proud to work in the United States of America," they simply said.
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