It's the perfect pairing of alchemy and agave, magic and moonshine, tricks and tequila, illusion and intoxicants!  It's America's Got Talent alumnus Seth Grabel in the Royal House showroom and Innovative Beverages LLC at the Royal House bar. But on the Royal House stage, baby, it's all Seth, because...

 

Vegas'

got Grabel!

By Arthur Bloberger

 

I first met rising magician Seth Grabel a handful of years ago when I was editor of the late Jewish Reporter and he was doing bar/bat mitzvahs and special events. He was pretty good then. Today, he's on the road to becoming one of the best!

He caught the magic bug from his father, I remember him telling me.

And how proud his father must have been when Seth Grabel entertained and wowed millions of television viewers with his acrobatics and grand scale illusion (making a DeLorean appear out of nowhere), coming back so powerfully from the brink of defeat, not to mention the clever way he spoofed the larger-than-life America's Got Talent hosts with smaller-than-life child versions (photo right). When he did that, he not only earned our respect as a world-class performer, but also won the hearts of every single, solitary reality show viewer.

 

Since then, he's been making the rounds back home here in Vegas, opening for The Amazing Johnathan and Anthony Cools, and most recently landing at the timeless Royal House on Convention Center Drive. The stage is too small to showcase his full world-class abilities, but the good news is the room is small enough to make the experience an intimate one - a close up look at who I feel will be magic's next superstar.

 

But more than just illusion, Grabel has a flair for comedy and spoof as well. I particularly enjoyed his nutty professor-like alter-ego (photo left - clearly a heartfelt tribute to Jerry Lewis' most famous character).

 

So maybe he doesn't have quite the room there at the Royal to make an automobile appear or showcase his full physical prowess, but the magic is still plentiful and, just as importantly, he can easily showcase his charisma and down-to earth likeability. In a word, he comes off as very warm, especially so when using audience volunteers for some of his routines. The party circuit really paid off here, making Grabel just the kind of guy with whom you'd like to joke and pal around.

 

And it's a magical pal indeed that has joined with Grabel as a sponsor for his show in Jose Davalos (in photo far right with cutting-edge mixologist  Jason Hughes), an equally personable talent in his own right. But his skills lie in the arena of world-class spirits, Davalos tequila to be precise. He and his family have been farming Agave in Jalisco, Mexico, for the last century, providing the base for many well-known tequila makers. But now the fruits of this experience and success have enabled the Davalos clan to give birth to their own label, producing and marketing some of the absolute finest tequila anywhere. Except, just like Grabel's show, you don't have to pay an arm and a leg to enjoy a premium product. I challenge you to taste it at the Royal House bar and say you've tasted better. Or better yet, pick up a bottle at your local package store (while it's still only available here in Las Vegas markets). You'll become a magician yourself as you inevitably make it all disappear. For more on this amazing tequila, check out http://www.davalostequila.com.

 

But back to Grabel. I'm willing to bet that this sweetheart of a super-talent (not to mention all the hard work he's put in) is going to be the magic world's next superstar. Yes, I'm talking right up there with Copperfield, Burton, Siegfried & Roy, and Penn & Teller. No need to be longwinded, for more on him, go to http://sethgrabel.com.

 

I guess what I'm really trying to say is this: first, this may well be your last chance to see Seth Grabel at an economical price of $39.95 before he ultimately and inevitably makes the ascension to a major showroom on the Las Vegas Strip and the ticket price ascends as well. Hey, eventually that DeLorean is gonna hafta reappear again!

 

Seth Grabel's Royal House shows are on Wednesdays through Fridays at 6 p.m. at 99 Convention Center Drive. Call 1-877-348-6879 for tickets while you still can, or visit http://tickets.royalboxoffice.com.

 

And second, we all need need each other to get where we want to go. We don't go through this magical journey on Earth alone. Friends, family and partners in life make for and are the true measures of success.