The Salem Haunted Magic Show — Attraction in Salem

I'm a Salem resident and I am on a mission to tour all the local attractions. About this one:

This is a review of "The Horror in Salem" show.

What it is: This is a good question... what is this? I thought I was going to see something completely different, as the online description is a bit elusive, and the different waivers that they make you sign make you think that you are going to see something scary and controversial. It's actually neither. After checking in and waiting in a big room, they will walk you to a smaller room with a stage that looks like the living room of a Victorian house, but with some objects from the 50s and other decades. Soon you'll realize that: This is a one-man show This is a magic show! (when I purchased the tickets from a Facebook ad, the show was by "Salem Screams" and no mention of "The Salem Haunted Magic Show") There is going to be a combination of storytelling and magic tricks. The real stories told are based in Salem and the North Shore and they involve violent crimes. A section is dedicated to the Salem Witch Trials. Progressively, the show has more and more a "seance" atmosphere. The entrance to the venue is on the left side of the church, where the parking lot is located.

PROs The magician - I can't remember his name, sorry - is a skilled storyteller and a great entertainer! There is a great atmosphere and lightning + music + some special effects on stage are actually very well orchestrated. Besides the magic tricks, it is basically a very informative and nicely put together "guided tour" of Salem and the North Shore minus the walking part! 😊 This is a very unique and memorable experience.

CONs What I didn't 100% enjoyed were the actual magic tricks, which seemed a bit old fashion and kinda predictable. Don't get me wrong, I ain't no magician and I won't be able myself to perform any of them, but if you allow me an entitled opinion, I thought a few of the tricks could be cut from the show and it would only benefit from it. Also, be aware that there is ton of audience participation. If you don't want to be involved, I recommend to sit in the middle of the second row (I was sitting there and never asked to participate in anything). Front row and second row corners can't avoid this fate. Downside of the middle seats on second row is that I was not able to see some of close-up magic Pictures are not allowed. The show is 2 full hours...

It wasn't terrible but it wasn't great. It lasts about an hour and 15 minutes but probably could've been a really good show if it was 45-60 min. What I mean is, he's not great at storytelling and sometimes the flow felt very off. It felt like he was trying to expand the timing with the talking. He needs to be a little punchier and more captivating when he's talking. The room absorbs sound so much so even in the 4th row, it was very hard to hear. A better sound system is needed. You could tell he couldn't hear the audience when participants talked because he would sort of feign a response and start replying back before they were finished talking haha. If the show is dependent on audience participation, I think you've got to have someone with a microphone going over to them. It's definitely not haunted and none of it is even remotely scary (which I preferred, but the title of the show is therefore odd). The stage decorations just didn't match any vibe of the show, nor did the music that was playing. It felt very disconnected. You'll sit in what seems like wooden kitchen chairs. They aren't terrible but after an hour you'll feel it. The actual "tricks" and illusions he does are very entertaining. We enjoyed the actual things he did. But the energy was so low in the room because you couldn't hear well in the audience and the narration needs much more improvement. It was a nice break to take during a busy day in Salem but I think going...

Are you going to Salem to get into the spirit of Halloween? I recommend this show 100%. The show includes amazing magic that will entertain and fool everyone, even if you think you know how magic tricks work. Other parts are just shocking when there is obviously no trick, just an amazing performer. Christopher Grace, the magician, started the show by walking on broken glass with his bare feet. He even let someone check his feet for wax or whatever. It wasn’t fake glass because you could hear the crackling under his bare feet, even over the screams of the audience. I mean, who IS this guy? Later in the show, he stuck his fingers inside of a volunteer’s stomach and pulling out blood and guts. PERFECT FOR HALLOWEEN. For the rest of the show he read people’s minds, telling them the names they were staring at in books, or showing he had predicted the initials of a volunteer’s cousin, who wasn’t even in the audience. The most amazing part was Chris talking about people we knew who were dead. We all wrote down people we had ‘lost’ and without ever looking at the papers we filled out, he was able to tell us who we were thinking of, and details of their lives. Really spooky! One woman next to me got really emotional, so don’t bring any friends who will be offended by this stuff, but if you want a truly spooky time this October, make sure to get to this show...