Good performances, with a mixture of comedy and skill. Venue is easy to access and has good acoustics but the seating is kept small enough that it feels like an intimate affair. Everything ran smoothly, would definitely bring visitors to town to this show. read more

My husband and I bought tickets last minute. We weren't sure what to expect, but we had a total blast! The show is funny and interactive without being too cringey. Highly recommend for a fun date night out! read more

Booked tickets for a Saturday night and was fairly underwhelmed. Disclaimer: this specific show was changed to a regular magic show because one of the main magicians couldn't make it. Therefore this is not a review for the usual Magic Duel, but I wasn't impressed enough to find out if the real show is better. PROS Seating: they allow you to get there an hour early to reserve your seats and wander around the hotel until the show starts Location: The Mayflower Hotel is gorgeous and really sets the stage for the show Audience Size: the show was a lot smaller than I expected, only about 50 people. This was nice because it felt more intimate, was easier to see the tricks, and there was more opportunity to participate. CONS Tricks: The tricks we saw were really nothing unique or special. They included things like metal rings, cards, puppets, and things appearing out of jackets Cost: For the price we paid, this was really not worth it. Also don't bother with the VIP seats; the extra money doesn't guarantee anything except first row seating which you can get if you get there when the doors open anyway Advertising plugs: the magicians plugged each other every act or so, and it really took away from the mood. They kept mentioning all the places they perform at and what other shows they do. Seems like that information could have just been at the end, or on a giveaway card instead. Overall I wouldn't recommend this show, and I won't be seeing it again. read more

This was a great date night. We purchased tickets on Groupon. Parking cost more than the tickets. The room where the "duel" takes place is very small and intimate. Mark and Brian have two different types of humor but somehow it meshes very well creating a playful back-and-forth. The tricks were fun to watch. I don't like to try to figure out the tricks. I want to remain surprised and have fun as it goes along. I would recommend this to others. I am curious to see if they provide new content. read more

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Such a GREAT show! Very creative, funny and *magical*. The show is intimate and they do a great job at engaging with the audience. And their performance is beyond cool, we all were trying to figure out each magic trick. Highly recommend for a date night, family outing or even a solo night out! read more

Please forgive me, I'm so sorry I"m just now getting around to this review. But do know that I've been talking about it long before and after this event. I have seen the Magic Duel every year for the past 3 years. I haven't been disappointed yet. I usually like to take my dates so that we can have a "magical experience!" or shall i say, so that the magic can begin. hehehehehee i know, i shouldn't laugh at my own jokes, but i find them to be funny, even if you don't laugh. Moreover, on that note about laughter, these two gentlemen are more than just Magicians, they are Comedians. Not just any comedians, their comedy is cleverly funny and witty. If you're not up to speed with current events especially politics, you'll miss most of the jokes because they come fast. The magic that they pull off is on a Vegas level. Why should you go see them? Because of the following reasons: * Wine bar - Drinks with magic and comedy are the perfect mix. Heck once you're tipsy, most anything can be funny. Once you're tipsy, most any trick is amazing. But this takes nothing away from their comedy and or magic. The alcohol is an additive to the experience. * Interactive- You can't attend a magic show without audience participation. It helps put the ease on everyone. * Entertaining- Just to reiterate, the "Magic Duel" is a great concept! We Americans love competition. Why not make it magical and funny?! You'll be amazed with their tricks, wondering, "how?" or "no way?!" In conclusion: * Innovative, intimate, simple yet clever, and thought provokingly funny. Pretty soon, they're going to get to know me, but I made a promise, "I will not share their secrets (because I don't know them)! But if I did, I'm pretty sure, they'd make me disappear as their next trick. (smiles...) I"m looking for another magical experience with them soon! Jackson read more

Went to the magic duel for a date night and it was a phenomenal time, the magic itself was top notch with some absolutely amazing tricks, but the experience was truly set apart by the enthusiasm of the team (it's a family business), the pacing of the show itself, the intimacy of the venue, and the charisma of the lead performers. I would absolutely recommend this to anyone! read more

High entertainment value! It was a very entertaining evening out for my wife and me and a great kickoff to our anniversary week. Both the mentalist and magician acts were great. They were both very personable and engaged with the audience in a friendly non-pushy way. We were particularly wowed by the magic act with the audience members wedding rings. We still can't believe what we saw right before our eyes. He pulls off a truly impossible feat that really does seem like MAGIC. We can see why they have earned a 5-star average rating on Yelp. Well done!High read more

This show was all things...fun, funny, magical! Both entertainers were phenomenal! Great for all ages!

OMFG. We went to a show at the Mayflower Hotel in DC last weekend. It blew my FREAKING mind. An amazing show! There were card tricks, rope tricks, children's magic, and mind-reading... also a part with a goldfish I could have done without. Also this thing where they stuck other people's wedding rings together - STUCK TOGETHER. The whole show was bananas. Oh, also the part where they somehow knew what color envelope my husband would pick and that a woman was going on a vacation with her friend named Gail and Jesus H. Christ it was nuts. It was super entertaining; the whole crowd was very into the show. They're a comedy duo as well, so it was magic and funny. We had a blast and I would absolutely go again. read more

I was in charge of coordinating a dinner and something 'out of the box' for our company. Found these guys online and decided this would be different. I can't begin to tell you how funny they were. Everyone in our group loved these guys and thanked me - repeatedly - for such a fun time. A high recommendation for something different. read more

My bf surprised me with tickets to see this magic show so I really had no idea to expect. All I knew was that would be a magic show, but we got way more! Brian and Mark are witty entertainers who really know how to wow a crowd with their magic tricks. I don't want to give too much away about the show and the back story, but they really engage the audience and include audience members in their jokes; half the the fun is their playful banter and humor. At intermission, Brian and Mark perform fun magic tricks right in front of you. Great for date night or a night out with friends. Also as a bonus, discounted tickets can be found on LivingSocial! read more

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This show was incredible: entertaining, hilarious, befuddling, well-timed, interactive, and inexpensive (for DC). I have never been to a magic show before but these two magicians had me literally yelling things like "what the heck?" "How did they do that??" and "No way, you've got to be kidding me!" throughout the entire show. Take your lover, take your parents when they visit from outta town, invite your best friends--hell, go by yourself! I cannot recommend this show enough. Pro tip: discounted tickets are almost always available on yelp or groupon read more

Had a great time at the show. Good for kids and adults. Found it randomly on Yelp and didn't know what to expect, was pleasantly surprised. Jokes are funny, and the magic was awesome. We were impressed. read more

The comedic duo know how to wow a crowd! Brain and Mark have you reeling in amusement from line one. Drinks from the upstairs cocktail bar were the perfect addition to the show. A magic show is not the first thing that comes to mind when the phrase live entertainment is mentioned, but these guys embody everything that's great about live entertainment and magic! I'd recommend this to anyone coming to DC -- or that remotely doubts the awesomeness of magic. Bravo! read more

You know the Magic Castle in Hollywood? The one where only members and "guests" can go in to see acts? Well, this is like that, except you might even be able to find a discount ticket. Street magic? Check Making random things appear and disappear? Check Sawing beautiful women in half? Not so much. But they did do an escape act. Overall, a good show. I encourage everybody to check it out. read more

An amazing show! At first you may think "it's in a random room in a hotel...how good could it be?"... AMAZING. I have no idea how they do what they do. They get the audience involved and the magicians banter is hilarious. It's basically a comedy magic show which I would see multiple times, even if it were the same exact act. My girlfriend was losing her freaking mind... read more

Hysterical laughter, creative magic, and a light-hearted night!! I recommend this show to anyone and everyone. I believe that they have put so much love and effort into this show and you can see it! 100% want to attend again in the near future! read more

We just had Mark Philips at our virtual gala and he was by far the highlight of the evening. Everyone was thrilled with his outstanding magic performance. I was very impressed that he was able to cater his amazing magic perfectly to the computer screen format. It was stunning and very professional. He also incorporated aspects of our event theme and charity work right into his magic show seamlessly. Very smooth and greatly appreciated. His stage presence was wonderful and approachable and he integrated lots of solid comedy and lighthearted fun throughout. I strongly recommend Mark Philips for any event where you want a world-class magic performance that appeals to everyone. read more

Total Hoot. Had moderate/low expectations - totally unwarranted. Agree the setting isn't "Vegas" but neither are the ticket prices, and great magic doesn't need glitz. Great back/forth between two talented magicians who pull volunteers and ideas from the audience. We live in the area and have pretty much "done it all" in DC, so this was an unexpected treat. You won't get any bodies sawed in half but enough great illusions to make the 75 mins worthwhile. read more

We watched them perform at The Mayflower Hotel in DC, they kept us entertained the entire time. They designed many acts involved the audience, we also like the witty jokes and the Comedy component . The two great local entertainers. read more

The Magic Duel - Performing Arts Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Definitely go see it!! Truly cannot figure out how they do it. I love magic and it's great to have a local show to go to

Loved this show! One of the only magic shows that actually kept me entertained. My spouse and I went for our anniversary and was not disappointed. Highly recommend! read more

My wife is into magic and got tickets for the Magic Duel. It was a lot better than I thought it would be. Brian and Mark were hilarious and their magic was spectacular! When we checked in, we got upgraded to VIP tickets. If people paid for the VIP tickets, I'm not sure they're necessarily worth it because the whole audience really does get involved. I would highly recommend this show to friends, couples, family, anyone! read more

The Magic Duel - At the check-in table, we were upgraded to VIP! - Performing Arts Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

OMG! ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC! It's a must-see for sure. They are funny and the magic is top-notch.

This is so cute and fun and if you enjoy a good mentalist (who doesn't?) you will be saying "how did he do that?" the whole time. The venue was elegant and small and the two magicians have a great and easy rapport. its fun as a date or with friends. Also make sure to check goldstar.com for discounted tix. read more

What a fun show! Mark and Ryan were fabulous and really know how to work a crowd and wow you with their magic tricks. We had the pleasure of seeing them at the Mayflower and it did not disappoint - laughs, mentalist, and magic tricks. There were groups of all ages and everyone enjoyed themselves. If you're in the DC area - it's definitely a must do! read more

Absolutely wonderful. The reviews do not disappoint. This is not a full production magic show. It takes real skill and talent to preform like these guys do. There was jokes, funny banter and real magic right before your eyes. If you're looking for a great date/ birthday/ regular Saturday night idea...THIS IS IT!! Tips... dress up a little classy because you want to look your best when they ask for participation read more

Fun and entertaining! Loved the jokes and the magic definitely had me guessed my!! It was great how they incorporated the audience. Definitely worth seeing read more

The Magic Duel - Performing Arts Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

We were so happy to have Mark and Ryan of The Magic Duel entertain us at our virtual department holiday party. We received so many complements from colleagues on the comedic banter and quality of magic! And the personalized trick with our department logo was a nice touch. It was a really entertaining, family friendly holiday event! Mark was so easy to work with and very responsive to our questions and needs. Definitely recommend for your next virtual team building or gathering. Michele H. AstraZeneca read more

You really can't help but be entertained. My dad has gone twice, a novice magician who appreciates this art. Maybe he will retire soon, and they'll make it a trio!! What an intelligent show with real comic talent. A zany crew with witty off the wall magic tricks. I'll come back when I visit home again! read more

I've seen a few of these and this was really a great show. My 12yo was completely enthralled! Worth the the ticket price and good fun. Thanks for a great show! read more

It's slightly difficult for me to review this, as I don't have a great deal of experience with magic shows. However, my girlfriend got us tickets to see this show during a weekend trip to DC and we had an absolute blast! Let me start off by saying that the rapport between the Mark and Brian, the two magicians, is excellent. These two are very much comedians as well as magicians which makes the show even more enjoyable. They are also HEAVY on the audience participation. I got picked and had a blast being part of the trick. Not much else to say here. The location is very central and the hall they perform in is nice enough, plus there is a full bar upstairs, always a plus. Overall, we had a blast, lots of laughs, some great tricks, what more do you want? If you are planning a trip to DC in the near future, definitely add this to one of your evenings! read more

Went here with my husband for a date night and had a great time! The two are very interactive with the audience, plenty of audience participation, and they both have really engaging personalities! They also have refreshments at the door and there are a lot of things to do in the surrounding area. Would definitely go again! read more

A Magic Duel, the perfect platform for these two world class masters of up close performance. The humor is family friendly, the action is clear, and the skill is top notch. All combined this totals out to be a perfect date night or special event or even just a Friday night outing. This cozy venue guarantees there is no bad seat to be had. Promises a great view of these talented performers as they combine Improv and Magic creating an unpredictable event with plenty of audience participation. read more

It was amusing and fun but way too expensive. It was basically $50 for a 45 minute performance. While the show was one half comedy and also magic, it left me wanting more. If you can get the tickets for a discount then you should check I say check it out, otherwise, a movie or show would be better. read more

If you're looking for a fun night out, this show is the bomb. Forget sticky bars and douchebags; AdMo just got way more magical. My colleagues and I attended the Friday show, and Brian and Mark did not disappoint. There were cheesy jokes, dirty jokes, bewildering tricks, and a buttload of laughs. I forget the last time I laughed that hard-- and there was a wide demographic of audience members, too! From a thirteen-year old to a couple that had been married nearly 50 years, all guests were eligible volunteers for the show. In the words of my boyfriend, "Those guys were great!!! But I think the voting was rigged because Brian's the best!" Yeah, you get to vote for your favorite magician. It's a hilarious set up. And really, everyone wins. Especially if you happen to be in an audience with a hilarious bald German man who really takes the jokes in stride when pressed. As of today, there are 2 more shows: Nov 14 and Nov 15. Tickets are $25; hop to it! read more

Very entertaining experience! 10PM show time is great because my friends and I were able to catch dinner before in Adams Morgan, and just walk over to Maison Biltmore. It was very interactive - the magicians tried to pull a lot of audience members into the show. Venue was small, which created a more intimate atmosphere. Part of the fun was trying to guess the secret behind the tricks. Tip: Get to the show 30-45 minutes beforehand in order to grab a good seat since it's open seating. This is especially true if you are in a larger group and want to sit together. read more

If you haven't seen the Magic Duel -- you really should. Incredibly funny show with fabulous magic. How else could a show run for four years! Brian and Mark are amazing. This isn't some run-of-the-mill magic show - it's an experience. Have dinner at a nearby restaurant (and there are many), then see the show -- no better way to spend a evening with adult family and friends. Shows at the Mayflower Hotel in DC. Here's a link to getting tickets -- and so reasonable in price! http://www.catchmeshow.com/ https://youtu.be/q92dOV5ayC8 read more

One word...WOW!!! This was amazing and SUPER funny! This was my 1st Magic show and went be my last. They were very interactive with the audience and great with reading the crowd. Added bonus... Yelp had a 30% promo. The seats at this particular location were most first come first seats. This is excluding their VIP seats (1st row). I recommend this show. Not a bad show but I wouldn't bring kids. Honestly, the show was MAYBE PG-13 if that. read more