"Poignant, entrancing...It deals with death and, perhaps more challenging, is shot through with ambiguity. Still, the very young children at the matinee I attended seemed both engrossed and entertained...Though many narrative threads are left loose, the rich artistic elements of 'Aging Magician' come together powerfully...Over all, the music is crucial, by turns pensive and fidgety, solemnly harmonic and skittishly diffuse. The score is vividly performed."
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"It is striking that a work at the city's best children's theater seems so awkward an offering for kids...Prestini's compositions (liquid, amelodic phrases) complement Eckert's voice, and director Crouch—one of the great designers working today—makes lovely spectacles out of sheets of paper...Dramatically, the show is intentionally inert—and this, coupled with hypnotic music, makes for an enervating 80 minutes."
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“When I say beautiful, it is an understatement to describe what, exactly, makes this so memorable a concept and performance. With a plot as intricate as the gears of a clock and meant for both those who have much or little time ahead of them, ‘The Aging Magician,’ like a magic trick itself, is a little bit elusive, requires a little bit of personal insight, but does not beg for more than the audience's belief to make it truly something of a wonder.”
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"This very unusual show is like a storybook and an opera in one...Eckert is backed up by the Brooklyn Youth Chorus. The beautiful voices of these young singers is the main reason to see this show, although the songs were not especially memorable and at times it was hard to understand what they were singing...The show overall moves along slowly and accordingly, I would not recommend it for young children who would probably be bored."
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"There are so many things that happen throughout the show that were gorgeous and interesting and moving, but it is one of those works that you need to experience...The music was beautiful and not in a jagged way that some think of contemporary music, nor in a minimalist way. It was perfect for this work. You need to hear the voices of the chorus mixing with Rinde's voice. You need to see the visuals, especially the ending visual so fantastically created by Mark Stewart."
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"A hypnotizing, aesthetically stimulating production...While the plot is of a rather intriguing nature, it was not the most mysterious aspect of the production. That honor goes to the music along with the combination of other sounds used in the production...Singing chords of incredible depth, the musicians created a haunting atmosphere...Alongside the hauntingly beautiful music was a mesmerizing setting...The production culminated beautifully, with an intense feast for the eyes and ears."
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