PHUKET: The multi-million baht GENESIS spectacular in Patong's Soi Bangla has closed its doors, with master illusionist Joe Labero now back in Sweden.
Phuketwan has been unable to confirm whether the show, which opened in December in the purpose-built Danze Fantasy Theatre, will reopen. Calls to producers were not being picked up yesterday.
One sourced said the show would reopen in October, but possibly with a change in cast.
Joe Labero, regarded as one of the world's best illusionists, put on a Phuket show that reviewers unanimously declared to be fantastic. Thirty international dancers, jugglers and other performers made GENESIS a great night out.
The show was certainly spectacular and well worth the fairly high price - by Phuket standards - of 1500 baht a seat. But the location of the theatre, appealing in some ways because it was in the centre of Patong, may have also worked against it being a year-round operation.
After GENESIS opened, a string of other openings of venues on Phuket followed: the Thai culture Siam Niramit spectacular, Aphrodite Cabaret in Phuket City and rival Simon Star Show, an offshoot of the existing Simon Cabaret production in Patong.
This year Phuket-based magician Joe Conrad, who had a permanent venue in Jungceylon shopping mall, not far from Soi Bangla, vanished without trace.
Joe Labero staged a Facebook countdown to the closing night of GENESIS at the end of May and there are photos of the star performer with customers, including King Gustav of Sweden and Abba's Anna-Frid Lyngstads.
As the promotional material says, ''See why Joe Labero was voted Illusionist Showman Of the Decade by the Merlin Award Society, as you marvel at illusions unlike anything you have ever see before.''
Phuket could use some more magic. ''The extraordinary master of illusions, Joe Labero will take you on the timeless voyage soaring to the farthest reaches, beyond human imagination . . . ''
We hope Joe and the GENESIS gang return to Phuket next high season.
Phuketwan has been unable to confirm whether the show, which opened in December in the purpose-built Danze Fantasy Theatre, will reopen. Calls to producers were not being picked up yesterday.
One sourced said the show would reopen in October, but possibly with a change in cast.
Joe Labero, regarded as one of the world's best illusionists, put on a Phuket show that reviewers unanimously declared to be fantastic. Thirty international dancers, jugglers and other performers made GENESIS a great night out.
The show was certainly spectacular and well worth the fairly high price - by Phuket standards - of 1500 baht a seat. But the location of the theatre, appealing in some ways because it was in the centre of Patong, may have also worked against it being a year-round operation.
After GENESIS opened, a string of other openings of venues on Phuket followed: the Thai culture Siam Niramit spectacular, Aphrodite Cabaret in Phuket City and rival Simon Star Show, an offshoot of the existing Simon Cabaret production in Patong.
This year Phuket-based magician Joe Conrad, who had a permanent venue in Jungceylon shopping mall, not far from Soi Bangla, vanished without trace.
Joe Labero staged a Facebook countdown to the closing night of GENESIS at the end of May and there are photos of the star performer with customers, including King Gustav of Sweden and Abba's Anna-Frid Lyngstads.
As the promotional material says, ''See why Joe Labero was voted Illusionist Showman Of the Decade by the Merlin Award Society, as you marvel at illusions unlike anything you have ever see before.''
Phuket could use some more magic. ''The extraordinary master of illusions, Joe Labero will take you on the timeless voyage soaring to the farthest reaches, beyond human imagination . . . ''
We hope Joe and the GENESIS gang return to Phuket next high season.
Thailand and Phuket in particular are a pure illusion as many foreigners or Thais from other provinces arrive with fanfare and lavish opening and disappear few months later without address.
That is Magic Thailand.
Posted by Whistle-Blower on June 20, 2012 11:29