Derek DelGaudio's In & Of Itself

Man, I wish I lived in New York... At times, I thought this magic act/one-man show might be the most pretentious thing I've ever seen; by the end, I thought maybe the pretension lies in me, arrogantly thinking my ability to discern meaning from someone else's work is what gives it value. That's how powerful this is; that segment/trick at the end alone, of Derek "seeing"/" naming" every audience member, was undeniably breathtaking.

As many have said, go in knowing as little as you possibly can. All I can think of put down here is this brilliantly written and designed theater-magic-show-cinema-confessional hybrid is about how labels create us (or may try) and how we either stick to them or transcend them. Are you the dog, the wolf, or in that space in between? You're still somebody's son, or mother, non? What Id also add is Delgaudio is a master showman, but his greatest skill as an artist is empathy and connectivity. I can't explain what he does (the letters most of all), and I don't want to. It is perceptive on a level that I can't put into words, except to add that in the 21st century, when everyone in life (or especially online) gets pigeonholed, it is.... necessary.

I haven't been at all religious in my life, but.... Is this what it's like to believe in the unbelievable? Oh, and a late-era masterpiece from Oz, who I wasn't sure would return to filmmaking but, my god, the editing and mix of animation really does a trick here as well.

Let me tell you a story, are you sitting comfortably, then I'll begin. Stop reading and just watch, why do you need other people's affirmations? The consensus says... Who cares?

It is truly marmite. Some will love it's affirmations of self, that we all long to be seen and take joy in the message. Others will see through it's emotional trickery and slight of hand Tom foolery and walk away with nothing. For those people I feel truly sorry.

Losses one star because the medium would be more powerful in person and now I've seen this I can never experience it for the first time in real life. For which I feel sadness. Excellent performance.

Just watch it. There are people who dislike it, and there are people who loved it. No person is going to be able to decide whether you like this or not except you.

Derek is Mesmerising.

His story telling pulls you in.

His card tricks are amusing His fun with the audience impressive He reminds me of Darren Brown

The audience is good at acting there parts and Derek really is good at his illusions.

It is well worth watching and probably worth a repeat performance.

The sound is Good The Photography is Good The Entertainment is Good.

Enjoy.... 👍