Rating: 
Summary: Massively Disappointed
Review: If you are a fan of the original broadway show, please resist the temptation to buy it on DVD!!!! The best song in the show -- West End Avenue -- is gone, replaced by a sappy song that Didi Conn's weak voice could handle. Aside from Anita Morris, the cast is lackluster. Save your money, buy the CD version of the original show.
Rating: 
Summary: "We've Got Magic To Do"
Review: Ironically, "Magic to do!" was not from THE MAGIC SHOW, but another Stephen Schwartz musical, PIPPIN (Also available on DVD). Although PIPPIN had its own kind of magic, it can't compare with the illusions performed for this taping. What an amazing treat to have a document of this show. This definately won't suddenly appear at the local community theatre. In this production, the late Doug Henning seems extremely confident when in the midst of an illusion, but when its time for him to 'act', he certainly comes across a bit wooden. And some of the songs by Stephen Schwartz, although not his best, are serviceable and add a a nice interlude to the tricks. The script is sophmoric, in fact, its a child's storyline. But, thats probably the point... I would suggest you bring the whole family around for this but, the heavy 1970s influence can be a bit of a turn-off to todays young folk (and even some older folk)... A must have for Schwartz fans.
Rating: 
Summary: The Magic Show
Review: It's about time a new generation gets to see one of the greatest magicians of the past 30 years in the performance that brought him to light. This filmed version does not capture all the "magic" Mr. Henning had to offer in the live stage version, it is a wonderful tribute to a great magician and a groundbreaking play. The film contains the original cast ad you can tell they were having fun.
Rating:
Summary: This could have been so good.....
Review: Michael Mosher (another reviewer) knew what he was talking about when discussing this dvd. I remember parts of this show vividly from seeing it when I was a teenager (many years ago now!). The show on this dvd is very, very different. Four of the songs (Solid Silver Platform Shoes, West End Avenue, Charmin's Lament and The Goldfarb Variations) have all been replaced with new, inferior songs. It's a shame. The performances are terrific from a very talented cast, and of course the magic tricks are just amazing - if only it was the original show! If you have happy memories of the original "Magic Show", then don't buy this dvd. You will be disappointed if you do!
Rating:
Summary: Fun musical to watch
Review: The musical has a simple story line but sure captured some of Doug's best magic. It's great to see the combination of music, dance and magic together in one show. For that price you can never watch a musical so make a purchase and have some fun with The Magic Show starring Doug Henning.
Rating:
Summary: Really Magic and Fun
Review: This film version of a long running Broadway show is fun from start to finish. The illusions are all great. The levitation on the water jets is truly baffling. Even for a person having a knowledge of magic, these illusions are wonderful. The whole cast seems to be having a great time doing the show and it comes across. Doug Henning is a delight as he was in his TV specials, but is given more of a chance to let an audience get to know him in the sort of silly story that surrounds the illusions. Anita Morris doesn't have a lot to do, but is a very sexy "glamorous assistant". Seeing Mr. Henning and Miss Morris makes a viewer slightly sad since they are no longer with us. Didi Conn is a comic delight as Doug's unappreciated assistant. She has two delightful songs - "Lion Tamer" and "Where Did The Magic Go". Comparing the musical numbers in this film to those on the original Broadway cast recording, some numbers have been replaced by new ones for this film. While none are "showstoppers" or that you will be humming when the show is over, they do contribute nicely to the over all fun of the piece. There are no "extras" on the DVD and the sound is a bit fuzzy in a few places during the musical numbers, but the whole show is so much fun that these faults can be overlooked. Once a Broadway show has closed, usually they live on only in sound recordings and the memories of those who saw them, so it is great to have a film of this Broadway hit and a lasting memory of Mr. Henning and Miss Morris.
Rating:
Summary: Faint Carbon
Review: This is not really the MAGIC SHOW that had a long run on Broadway. Many of the songs have been changed, and while the new ones are pleasant enough, none is as sophisticated or interesting as the one it replaced. To me, the biggest problem are the sets and costumes. So ugly, so cheap looking. As the divine assistant, the late Anita Morris is great. Didi Conn is fun and adorable, though vocally thin.
Rating:
Summary: Faint Carbon
Review: This is not really the MAGIC SHOW that had a long run on Broadway. Many of the songs have been changed, and while the new ones are pleasant enough, none is as sophisticated or interesting as the one it replaced. To me, the biggest problem are the sets and costumes. So ugly, so cheap looking. As the divine assistant, the late Anita Morris is great. Didi Conn is fun and adorable, though vocally thin.
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointing, but nice to have anyway
Review: Well...I wish I could say that I really liked this DVD, but I can't. Loved watching Doug Henning again...some amazing magic, even though his basic tricks were ones we've seen over and over again. That's all the good news I could find in this filmed performance. The book by Bob Randall is hideous. The jokes almost always landed with a thud, and the story line is ludicriously thin. The supporting cast was serviceable with nobody at all standing out. Didi Conn is very likeable, but she seems like a chimpmunk on speed. Anita Morris barely registered, even though her vocal register was incredible, and she spent much of her stage time bi-sected. Doug Henning was very stiff, as you could see from the opening choreography where he wasn't sure what hand move was next. Even his trademark delivery of his magic tricks seemed somewhat uncomfortable at times. He ended each trick with that "ta-da" jump, a great big smile, and his jumpy eyebrows as if to say, "How about that?" He cannot act at all. He does make up for that, however, with sheer enthusiam, energy, and brilliant sleight-of-hand magic. That all having been said, David Copperfield and Penn/Teller owe a lot to Henning's break through style of the seventies. But the biggest question of all is "What happened to the score?" Stephen Schwartz's enchanting score from the Broadway Cast recording is far from brilliant, but fun to listen to. This "cutting" of the show destroyed much of the fun. What good can you say about this show when the best song in the score, "West End Avenue" is nowhere to be found.
Rating:
Summary: Disappointing, but nice to have anyway
Review: Well...I wish I could say that I really liked this DVD, but I can't. Loved watching Doug Henning again...some amazing magic, even though his basic tricks were ones we've seen over and over again. That's all the good news I could find in this filmed performance. The book by Bob Randall is hideous. The jokes almost always landed with a thud, and the story line is ludicriously thin. The supporting cast was serviceable with nobody at all standing out. Didi Conn is very likeable, but she seems like a chimpmunk on speed. Anita Morris barely registered, even though her vocal register was incredible, and she spent much of her stage time bi-sected. Doug Henning was very stiff, as you could see from the opening choreography where he wasn't sure what hand move was next. Even his trademark delivery of his magic tricks seemed somewhat uncomfortable at times. He ended each trick with that "ta-da" jump, a great big smile, and his jumpy eyebrows as if to say, "How about that?" He cannot act at all. He does make up for that, however, with sheer enthusiam, energy, and brilliant sleight-of-hand magic. That all having been said, David Copperfield and Penn/Teller owe a lot to Henning's break through style of the seventies. But the biggest question of all is "What happened to the score?" Stephen Schwartz's enchanting score from the Broadway Cast recording is far from brilliant, but fun to listen to. This "cutting" of the show destroyed much of the fun. What good can you say about this show when the best song in the score, "West End Avenue" is nowhere to be found.
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