STAGE REVIEW : ‘IT’S MAGIC!’ AT VARIETY ARTS CENTER

“It’s Magic!,” Milt Larsen’s annual “concert in conjuring,” has returned to the Variety Arts Center’s downstairs theater after a sojourn last year in the smaller Masquers Theatre upstairs.

The lineup of talent changes weekly. But on opening night last week, the larger space provided room for the Mums, making their first “It’s Magic!” appearance, to stride down the aisles on stilts--and then to juggle enormous inflated balls from aisle to aisle, over the heads of the audience. When the big globes finally fell, the audience batted them back and forth, and the children in the audience kept the fun going throughout intermission. Everyone had a ball.

The Mums, snappy as ever, were the highlight of the show, but only because their high spirits were more suitable for the larger hall than was the relatively cool, utterly effortless magic of Scott Cervine.

Chuck Jones and Company contributed the most baffling tricks--a couple of rounds of woman-splitting--but Jones has an unctuous voice, and his ensemble’s smiles seemed forced. This same greasy style afflicted the opening act, “Mr. Electric” and Carol, to an even greater degree, and Mr. Electric’s stunts with light bulbs were less than incandescent. The Great Tomsoni and Company, particularly the female “Company,” added a few laughs, but they didn’t know when to quit.

Emcee Harry Anderson did his own sly routine at the top of the second half;he’ll be there “as often as his busy shooting schedule permits,” according to the program. This week’s attractions are manipulator Dale Salwak, mentalist Glenn Falkenstein, illusionists Jonathan Neal Brown and Liane, ventriloquist David Strassman, juggler Charlie Frye and Co. and medium Frances Willard. Appearing Dec. 17-20 are Christopher Hart, Stan Allen, the Barans, Bob Dorian, Billy McComb, and Ed Alonzo and Co.

Performances are Wednesdays through Saturdays at 8 p.m., with extra 5 p.m. shows on Saturdays (213-623-9100).