Photos by Andy Argyrakis

Tons have tried to follow in their footsteps throughout the last half-century, but Penn Jillette and Raymond Joseph Teller, better known to legions of followers as Penn & Teller, are true originals who remain significant forces in putting magic on the international map.

In fact, the dazzling duo, who are just as much comics and social commentators, are now the longest-running headlining attraction in the history of Las Vegas, though thankfully, occasionally take the show on the road, which came to the landmark Chicago Theatre with a wave of the wand by NiteLite Promotions. 

This time around is part of the ambitious and extraordinary “50th Anniversary” Tour, through rather than focusing on strictly the nostalgia of where they’ve been, Penn & Teller took a fresh, relevant and consistently funny approach to the 100-minute night.

Of course, there were some consistent threads that continue to run throughout their incomparable career, such as Penn being the master of ceremonies and Teller staying absolutely silent, alongside a tradition of frequently involving fans. 

The opening stretch featured astounding trickery involving tying a knot in a long piece of fabric, cutting it in half and then restoring it to mint condition, plus precisely matching the amount of coins to a jar of jelly beans in what was surely lottery-like odds. 

There was also the extremely unconventional practice of reading the directions of a trick they ordered in the mail, which eventually made a soup-eating gorilla (or at least a costumed one) appear out of thin air. 

The later segments upped ante in terms of complexity and the seemingly impossible, including a communal “Battle Of Dreams” guessing game, a cards inside balloons match-up marvel, repairing a shattered piece of glass and making a paying customer’s credit card vanish out of the gift shop, then reappear in a locked trash can. 

Penn & Teller saved the most mind-blowing moments for last, first involving a dart board, Bible and pinpointing an obscure verse out of Proverbs, followed by a perfectly synchronized interaction with the video screen to act out a piece called “Entropy” that had to be seen to truly be believed, while the Chicago Theatre raised a toast of cheers to another 50 years. 

For additional information on Penn & Teller, visit PennAndTeller.com.

For a list of upcoming NiteLite Promotions concerts, visit NiteLite.com.

Upcoming shows at the Chicago Theatre include Ben Schwartz & Friends (Oct. 25); “My Favorite Murder” (Nov. 5); 312 Comedy Festival (Nov. 6); Ralph Barbosa (Nov. 7); 312 Comedy Festival (Nov. 8); Fortune Feimster (Nov. 8); “The Pivot Podcast” (Nov. 12); David Garrett (Nov. 13); Sal Vulcano (Nov. 14); Chris D’Elia (Nov. 15); “Gabby’s Dollhouse” (Nov. 16); Patti Smith (Nov. 17-18); Sam Harris (Nov. 19); Jeff Arcuri (Nov. 22-23); Mora (Nov. 26); Straight No Chaser (Nov. 29); Erykah Badu (Dec. 2-3); Brett Eldredge (Dec. 4-6); “The Jinkx & DeLa Holiday Show” (Dec. 7) and Cirque du Soleil: “’Twas The Night Before…” (Dec. 11-Dec. 28). For additional details, visit TheChicagoTheatre.com.

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