After a four year residency at the historic Stanley Hotel, illusionist Aiden Sinclair has brought his unique style of magic to another rumored to be haunted location, The Queen Mary. Found deep within the B-deck of the ship, Sinclair kicked off his new show “Illusions of the Passed; Legends of the Queen Mary, A Theatrical Séance!” to the public this past Friday. I was fortunate enough to attend an exclusive performance the night before in the ship’s all-new Revenant Room, which is home to Sinclair’s new show, as well as two new bars.
The Revenant Room sets the mood for your entire evening. After walking down the long corridor of the B-deck, which is creepy enough on its own, you are taken into a dimly lit lounge that showcases a number of historical and haunted trinkets that Sinclair has collected over the last seven years. Some of which he’s purchased, others of which were gifted to him simply because the previous owners were too creeped out by the item to keep it. Highlights of the collection include artifacts from the Titanic, the Houdini Estate, and the Stanley Hotel. In the corner, an antique radio plays music from the early 1900’s and adds to the atmosphere, making you feel as if you’ve been transported to another space in time.
In the lounge is the first of two bars in the Revenant Room where you can order wine or beer as well as a special selection of haunting drinks including:
- Smoke and Mirrors – Knob Creek smoked maple bourbon, sweet vermouth, black walnut bitters, hickory smoke
- W.E. Stark Aviation – Empress 1908 gin, Maraschino liqueur, lemon juice, hibiscus flower
- The Gent – Cazadores Reposado tequila, Liquid Alchemist ginger, activated charcoal, agave nectar, topped with gold flakes and an edible flower
- Blood and Bourbon – Makers 46, fresh squeezed blood orange juice, campari blood orange wheel
- Drop of Lavender – Grey Goose le citron, creme de violet, lavender syrup, fresh lemon juice, sweetened with a sugar rim
- The Lady In White – St George absinthe, cold water drip and sugar cube
During the visit I tried Smoke and Mirrors and The Gent, both were really good, but Smoke and Mirrors was probably my favorite. Not only does the drink taste delicious, but it looks like a science experiment as they make it.
Just past the bar is the hallway to the new theater where the “Illusions of the Passed” come alive. The room is small, only seating about 50 people, but is the perfect intimate setting for Sinclair’s performance, which is a unique style of magic that is only performed by a handful of magicians. You see, Sinclair’s performance isn’t about tricking you or deceiving you. The only smoke and mirrors you’ll find during the show is at the bar. Instead, Sinclair’s entire goal with the show is about creating a memory. Memories are an important theme of Sinclair’s entire performance. The memories of those we loved or admired that have passed. The memories of the lives lost on The Queen Mary itself, and the lasting memories and impressions that people who leave this plane leave on us and leave on this earth after they’ve passed. These memories are what drive “Illusions of the Passed” and conjure the energy and spirits needed for each of the various paranormal illusions performed by Sinclair.
Leveraging some of Sinclair’s historic artifacts, audience participation and the spirits of The Queen Mary, the roughly 90-minute performance mixes history, humor, and a special séance-like magic to create a unique performance that ensures no two shows are the same. Feel the touch of a ghostly hand, speak to those long since departed, and witness the apparitions of those who linger within the haunted hull interact with volunteer audience members and the artifacts that they hold. Sinclair opens the show mentioning his performance is a mixture of reality and illusion. By the end of the show, it’s clear what’s real, Sinclair’s ability to make you feel something and if he succeeds you’ll leave the show looking at The Queen Mary and ghosts in a totally different way.
Aiden Sinclair’s “Illusions of the Passed; Legends of the Queen Mary, A Theatrical Séance!” has dates scheduled through January 2019 and is a must-see for anyone interested in The Queen Mary, history, séances, and ghosts. You can view a full list of performance dates, times, and ticket information on The Queen Mary website.
