Documentary: Women in Boxes

As the magician accepts his round of applause, in many cases, there's a magic assistant who has quietly slipped off stage or remains hidden from the audience's view. "Women in Boxes," a new documentary, unveils this untold story of the assistant who is cut into pieces, levitated, impaled, set on fire and more. It's a mesmerizing and entertaining film with interesting revelations for magic fans.

Who's Who of Magic

The documentary features a who's who of magic that includes: Gay Blackstone (Blackstone), Pam Thompson (Johnny Thompson), Tammy Calvert (John Calvert), Coral Reveen (Peter Raveen), Moi Yo Miller (Dante), Jan Jones (Chuck Jones); Nani Darnell (Mark Wilson), Frances Willard (Williard the Wizard); Dove (Goldfinger & Dove); Monique Dimmare (Dimmare) Irene Larson; Luna Shemada (Shimada and Dimmare); Deanna Shimada (Shimada) and Stacey Jones (Majestix).

The experiences of these exceptional performers are all over the map. And unlike their subjugated stage roles, they reveal themselves as brilliant and articulate magicians in their own right with lots of business acumen and stories to tell. After watching the film, it's quite apparent that they are a big factor in the success of their respective acts.

Relationships

What makes this documentary most fascinating is the relationships between the ladies and magicians. Many are married to the magicians, which creates an intense 24/7 relationship that exists both on and off stage and on the road.

Some are interviewed with their husbands while others are interviewed alone. There are fascinating stories about routines going wrong, handling the business end of the act and relationships, as well as intriguing stage and performance footage.

Many, such as Goldfinger and Dove, Mark Wilson and Nani Darnell, Chuck and Jan Jones, John and Tammy Calvert and Johnny and Pam Thompson have remained married. Many are widowed. And some are divorced, as is the case with Dimmare and Luna Shemada; Deanna Shimada and Shimada and Stacey Jones and Michael Giles.

Magic Secrets

Most entertaining are Johnny and Pam Thompson who appear together and argue (and you thought this was just an act?). In a whimsical threesome, Dimmare is interviewed with both his ex-wife and former assistant, Luna Shemada, and current wife and assistant, Monique Dimmare.

Most shocking is Deanna Shimada who paints a less than complimentary picture of the great Shimada. While some of her remarks could be the result of a volatile relationship gone south, I'm not sure that I can get past this image the next time I enjoy watching the smiling Shimada on stage.

The documentary is fascinating from a historical standpoint. There are the kids such as Luna Shemada, Stacey Jones and Frances Willard who grew up on the road and performed in their parents' act. In the case of Willard, we’re given lots of insight into an earlier era of magic.

Even if you have been following magic for some time, there are some stories here that you have likely not heard from a strikingly different perspective. I found this production to be insightful and thoroughly entertaining. And I think lay audiences will enjoy it as well.