The Amazing Johnathan is playing at the Harmon Theatre inside the Krave nightclub just outside of Planet Hollywood. His comedy/magic show tries to walk the line of inappropriateness with jokes and illusions, and with only a few missteps, Johnathan keeps the audience laughing through most of the night. His type of humor is not going to be everyone's cup of tea---you have to be just a little bit sick to really appreciate his humor, but for those that do, you will find no better outlet. If though you have seen any of Johnathan's shows or comedy specials in the last ten years, do not expect to see anything new...it's the same show.
The Amazing Johnathan's show is a mix of weird magical bits, humor, and abuse. With his impulsive, raw humor and abrasive wit, he keeps audiences on the edge of their seats while exhibiting spontaneous magic and showcasing special effects. His long-time assistant, Psychic Tanya, comes out time after time, only to be beaten off stage by The Amazing Johnathan. Most of the humor is very crude and continually teeters on the fence of tastelessness, but this fence is walked very keenly, and has brought this team the accolades they deserve. The audience is not safe at the show either. After encouraging an audience member to come up on stage, that person is then part of the show, and the brunt of most of the jokes, for the next 45 minutes. Sometimes the build up to a trick is a bit belabored and gets a bit tiresome, but the payoff is usually worthwhile.
An early clue, as to what sort of humor will be the norm for the evening, comes with the video clips that precede the show. Video clips, from "There's Something About Mary," "Dumb and Dumber," etc., show off humor that is often crass, tasteless, and gross; and is a preview as to what is to come. The success of these films, and many others like it, shows that the market is obviously there for this. There is also a video scan of the audience. Every now and then the camera focuses on a particular person, and an insulting quip is captioned underneath their photo. It's all in fun, and the audience seemed to be good sports and enjoy it for the most part.
The move to the Harmon Theatre seems to be positive for both him and the venue. The space suits him well, and will hopefully bolster the overall attendance and presence of Krave. Johnathan is also running out of places to play. His show has been a vagabond roaming up and down the Strip taking up residence wherever will have him...until he wears out his welcome. He has been asked to leave more than just a few places.
The Amazing Johnathan is an eccentric comic magician whose bizarre humor and antics have earned him widespread recognition as an original and unique performer...and while this may be true in one sense, it is also a bit of a shame that the act has not changed in nearly a decade. I keep going back to his show every couple of years hoping for something new or different...but am hard pressed to find anything beyond a simple variation of a routine. It could be the "if it ain't broke don't fix it" idea, but when does that just turn stale? The Amazing Johnathan's show is a lot of fun for the right crowd. The humor is coarse and oftentimes gross, but it is funny in that very sick way. If you enjoy his brand of humor and audience interaction, then you should definitely get out to see him. If you've seen the show, though, then there's no reason to see it again.
The Amazing Johnathan is playing at the Harmon Theatre inside the Krave nightclub just outside of Planet Hollywood. His comedy/magic show tries to walk the line of inappropriateness with jokes and illusions, and with only a few missteps, Johnathan keeps the audience laughing through most of the night. His type of humor is not going to be everyone's cup of tea---you have to be just a little bit sick to really appreciate his humor, but for those that do, you will find no better outlet. If though you have seen any of Johnathan's shows or comedy specials in the last ten years, do not expect to see anything new...it's the same show.