Magic was electrifyingly alive at The Best of Perth Close-Up Magic Festival, an intimate and wonderous showcase of magic hosted by the extraordinary Stuart Lightbody.

After wowing the audience himself with a mind-bending opening to the show, Lightbody welcomed the incredible line-up of talent.

Local magician Brett Stinton was first up, mesmerising with jaw-dropping card tricks that seemed to utterly defy physics. With smooth sleight of hand, Stinton had cards disappearing and reappearing right before the audience's eyes. His clever tricks had cards changing places, transforming suits, and vanishing into thin air. The crowd buzzed with astonishment at his ingenuity. With his sheer skill, Stinton captivated the audience completely with his card magic. His stunning acts of illusion left them questioning their own eyes and perception, all while being thoroughly entertained.

Jon Madd raised the intensity armed with a $20 magician’s toolkit from Kmart and boatloads of charisma. Madd performed uncanny tricks and Illusions right before our eyes. When he brought out simple metal rings, linking and unlinking them through space, the audience was enraptured. Though he spiritedly explained the trick as he went along, the result seemed nothing short of real magic. Madd thoroughly entertained with his wit and showmanship, all while leaving the delighted spectators utterly baffled by his clever illusions.

Before introducing the final act, Lightbody performed tricks that left heads spinning. How on earth coins could change places right in front of our eyes was anyone's guess.

The mysterious Pierre Ulrich closed the show, mixing mind-reading with magic in his mystifying act. Several gasps were heard when Ulrich revealed spectators' chosen cards seemingly through psychic powers alone. His act left the audience questioning what was illusion and what was real mentalism.

For a spectacle of classic close-up magic, The Best of Perth Close-Up Magic Festival delivers in spades.