For over a decade, illusionist Maxwell Blade has delighted visitors at Hot Springs’ Historic District with his long-running magic show at the Historic Malco Theatre. His new location next door to the Gangster Museum of America showcases up-close “parlor magic” and classic sleight–of-hand.
Although blessed with talent, Maxwell has for many years struggled with addictions.
After spending several months at the Milestone Ranch treatment facility in Malibu (“the best decision I ever made,” he says) Maxwell has embarked on a mission to give back to the community in an effort to inspire others. Within the framework of the 12 Steps, the cornerstone of most recovery programs, he employs his considerable skills as a magician to illustrate the nature of illusion and addiction.
Maxwell introduced his magic-with-a-message at the Quapaw House, a residential treatment facility just west of Hot Springs. Quapaw House is home to 45 residents and treats more than 70 outpatients. Since Maxwell’s twice-monthly shows began, the impact has been heartfelt — often bringing people to tears.
“The response has been wonderful,” says Bob O’Dowd, director of Quapaw House. “There are so many things magical related to recovery — the tie-in is fabulous.”
The Sugarloaf Center, a residential facility in Heber Springs, was also the site of a recent well-received performance. Zach Talbot, co-founder of the Sugarloaf Center, says, “Max’s magic show was amazing. I really liked how he used illusions and symbolism to convey the message of recovery. The presentation was fun, interactive, and thought provoking.
Throughout a typical show, Maxwell turns to the image of chains and links to talk about “the chain of addiction.” At one point he will invite an audience member to sit in a chair while he places chains around the participant’s shoulders and arms, ultimately demonstrating that there’s no lock on the chains — it’s all in the mind. He also places a link from the chain on the floor and asks a participant to pick it up — blindfolded. This necessitates a counselor leading the blindfolded person by the hand, emphasizing the importance of the counselor’s guidance.
Maxwell progresses through classic sleights-of-hand — making salt pour into and out of his empty palm; shredding a dollar and making it whole again; sending a stream of cards like a waterfall out of his mouth; transforming a magic wand into a bright red scarf.
“You know how I learned to do that?” Maxwell asks the audience. “I listened to someone, practiced, and learned.” He encourages the audience to listen to their counselors and practice the ways of recovery.
Using a rope trick to illustrate differences and similarities between people, he recalls, “I went through every kind of abuse as a young boy – I was the shyest kid in the world.” As the disproportionate ropes fall to identical lengths, he adds: “I struggle with addiction just like you.”
Music plays in the background while Maxwell sets a row of seemingly empty canisters on a table, saying, “I can just have ONE drink” — suddenly, bottles begin multiplying out of the canisters until the table is filled with liquor bottles, glasses, half-empty martinis — “You can’t have just one!” he shouts as the crowd cheers.
The show progresses through some mind-boggling illusions — he appears to read people’s minds; makes a card rise up out of a deck; floats solid objects and makes them disappear, all in rapid-fire succession.
He does a series of racy tricks that draw loud laughs from the crowd. “It’s all just tricks,” he states. “We listen, we learn.” The crowd is hanging onto every word.
“Illusionists practice in front of a mirror,” Maxwell adds. “But the biggest trick was on me. We fool ourselves.”
When a woman steps up front to do a “life-change,” everyone is riveted. Maxwell has her write the things she wants to change about herself on a piece of paper. Then she steps through a prop door.
“I‘m giving this to God,” Maxwell says, ripping up the paper without reading it. “The rest of your life will change if you open up this door, let go and let God.” Then he unfolds the paper – it’s whole again and says in big bold letters: “The 12 Steps.”
He opens the door and hands the young woman the piece of paper. She stands there, crying. The room is silent and then the applause begins.
Maxwell Blade’s intensity and passion infuse his performances with a power that comes from a place of shared experience. “If my show helps just one person… If you could have seen their faces…” sighs Maxwell, describing the effect of something truly magical.
In April, Maxwell brings his unique brand of 12-Step outreach to an annual convention of industry professionals at the Arlington Hotel.
