Penn and Teller have spent 50 years advancing the art of magic. But they have often ran afoul of the culture’s vaunted institutions.
The Magic Circle is one of them. Founded in this city in 1905, the society for magicians has refused to induct P&T because they have revealed how tricks are achieved. The duo have shown in their act at the Rio how sleight-of-hand and large-scale illusions are performed.
But last week the organization came full circle (as it were), announcing the Rio headliners would be made members and honored at the Centre for the Magic Arts. A total of 1,750 members have been invited as members, with including King Charles (a huge fan of the medium) an honorary member.
