‘Stand Up Magic’: Nicolas Ribs performs at the Théâtre de la Chapelle

Having arrived the day before, he has already recovered well from the effects of jet lag and admits he is pleased to be spending a few days on the island and has decided to make the most of it. In fact, the outfit he’s wearing as he welcomes us leaves no doubt that he fully intends to head to the beach as soon as our conversation is over. The first observation that shatters preconceptions (and it won’t be the only one) is that magicians aren’t always dressed in a tuxedo and wearing a top hat.
It’s always interesting to discover the sleight of hand that leads someone to choose a career that’s unusual to say the least, and in his case, he makes no secret of the fact that, as a young man, he didn’t really have any idea about his professional future. He therefore undertook training to become a hearing aid specialist; in doing so, he restored the ability to hear to those who had lost it – were these his first acts of magic? Those who have regained a decent level of hearing thanks to him are certainly convinced of it.

Just an illusion

What he dreamt of most of all was being able to ‘do something’ different whilst all his musician friends were having fun with their instruments, so he tried his hand at the guitar, but without much success; then suddenly an idea sprang to mind like a rabbit out of a hat: he would become a magician and could finally shine in public before the astonished eyes of young and old alike. Thus began a journey in which he took his first steps into the world of magic, with the budding idea of combining gestures with words, as he loves to talk at every opportunity to fill the silences whilst a dove emerges from a cloud of smoke. Hence the idea of ‘Stand-up Magic’.
As he went along, success followed, and Nicolas turned professional. He set his sights on the United States, where the shows of the illusionist Criss Angel were a huge hit. Rock ’n’ roll and magic go hand in hand, and indeed Nicolas Ribs gives a nod to this during his show by making the most of his basic guitar skills, as we’ll see during his three performances in Saint-Martin. A visit to his website reveals that he was a semi-finalist on ‘La France a un incroyable talent’, a finalist on the American equivalent, ‘America’s Got Talent’, and that he has won a Mandrake d’Or – an award for magicians worldwide comparable to the Ballon d’Or for footballers (no small feat).

Thank you, Johnny

Off the record, he admits to us that he chose to perform in Saint-Martin because he was accompanied by some family members who were keen to visit Johnny Hallyday’s grave in Saint-Barth. A tribute to the nation’s favourite rocker from a man who became a magician rather than a musician – it all makes sense. Nicolas Ribs’ show is interactive, so expect to get involved in one way or another.
The first two performances are sold out, but you can still book for Sunday 8 November at 6 pm (https://www.theatresxm.fr/)... Or visit his website as a consolation: https://www.nicolas-ribs-magicien.com