Short version: Kyle is the single best closeup magician I have ever seen, and 400 years ago he…read morewould have been burned as a witch.
Longer version:
Kyle performed at my family reunion, for a crowd of about 15. First thing that I noticed: he knew every single person's name by heart within the first 10 minutes of arriving. Just while he was talking to people, sharing a few jokes, setting up for the show. Even before he had performed a single trick, he had charmed every member of my family, even the grumpy ones and even the young'ns, some of whom are usually shy. He was funny, considerate, intelligent, articulate, gracious, patient, and I know he's got a houseful of his own kids and he's worked with young people, and he was just as fantastic with generation A as he was with the Gen Xers and the Boomers!!
My family ranged in age from 11 to 78. And Kyle had something to delight every single person there. During the act itself, he invited us to sit up close, and we could easily see every moment, every movement, every manipulation, and he befuddled and befuzzled every single one of us. So in this, Kyle actually defied Abraham Lincoln: he fooled all of my family, all of the time. And Kyle invited audience participation in several of the tricks. And every single trick was an absolute mind breaker. Some of my family members were sitting 2 feet away, and every single person was bowled over by the magic Kyle performed with such craftsmanship and confidence.
Plus the guy is funny! A genuinely talented magician, and a fiendishly quick wit. His friendly banter and incisive patter and audience engagement delighted everyone there.
If you are looking for the Mozart of Magic, a Prestidigitator par Excellence, an Alchemist of Amazement, a Conjuror of Consequence, the Napoleon of Necromancy, the Sorcerer Supreme, a Thaumaturge of Thinkery, a Wild and Witty Warlock of WOW, the Leonardo of Legerdemain, the Diva of Divination, and...
If ever a wonderful wizard there was?
Well it was Kyle Purnell.
And if you need a lightbulb changed? Kyle is tall. Really tall. Sasquatch tall. NBA D-League practice squad tall.