Over the last month I have had the great pleasure to spend some time with Andrew Goldenhersch, who has been here in Boise to perform at Mystique. I just got home from having a late lunch with him. Great time, good food, great conversation, great guy.

My wife and I had the great privilege of seeing Andrew's show at Mystique several weeks ago. Andrew truly is a gifted performer. His whole 45-minute show was great. But what stood out to me most was his Miser's Dream routine...

As I told Andrew today, even if you know HOW he is producing the coins, it STILL looks incredibly magical. He has structured that routine so beautifully that, combined with his flawless technique, it is pure magic. At the end, just when you think it's over (he has produced a jumbo coin from the participant's ear), he produces a 10-inch, 5-pound coin out of nowhere! The entire routine is gorgeous, as I said previously, but that final enormous coin... Andrew is a very thin guy. The coin looks about the size of his torso!

Andrew's Miser's Dream is by far the best routine for this venerable classic I have EVER seen, and one of the most magical things I've ever witnessed. It's not published. I told him I hope he never does publish it, and he said he has no plans to do so. But if you ever get the chance to see it, do so--you won't be sorry!

And tosses it on the floor with a THUD!

I've seen Andrew do this a couple of times at the Castle, and it's exactly as you describe it: brilliant and magical. (Alas, by doing it at the Castle, it's very likely to be . . . shall we say? . . . co-opted? Ask Steve Bedwell about his routine In Over Your Head.)

One of the, if not the best most magical version ever performed. Classical, fooling magic at its best. Not a lot of cocaine nose loads of coins. Just magical productions that look real.

I like Jeff McBride's Miser's Dream, it's been discussed and imitated but never equaled.

I simply think it's one of the most magical things I've ever seen and wanted to let others know that if they get a chance to see Andrew perform, they should do so.

It appears that he's a gifted guitar player as well.
Does he combine music and magic in his act?

I know he plays the guitar, but I don't believe he includes that in his magic act--at least he didn't at Mystique.

I've done a few shows at Temple Beth Tikvah in Fullerton, CA, where Andrew is well-remembered for his guitar playing; apparently he was quite a favorite there.

Are there any videos of Andrew Goldenhersch to watch anywhere? I'd love to see it!

I would love to see Andrew's Miser's Dream- he brings so much to anything he does. He brought his guitar to Magi Fest last year, but only played it during a late night workshop. He has a lot of good things to say about our art. Plays the guitar well too!

Thanks, Scott, for bringing some much-deserved attention to this very gifted magician. His approach is unique and mystical.

Jim

For my money... Andrew's is the best. Yes... including McBride. John Carney's miser's dream is a close 2nd for me, and for totally different reasons.

It was a pleasure performing with Andrew in Boise for those 5 weeks.

Andrew's scheduled at the Castle next weekend.