“Do you believe in real magic?” Many must, as the line to enter the Neil Simon theater wrapped around the block—whole families– for a recent performance of The Illusionists. This yearly holiday themed event features a rotating troupe of internationally acclaimed magicians, a crowd pleaser as it cajoles the audience with comedy and Vegas styled pageantry.

Provocatively dubbed “The Trickster,” British Paul Dabek leads off, carrying enormous ribboned boxes down the aisle, challenging a father and daughter plucked from their seats to compete. Winning, the girl gets to wave a wand triggering a gauzy opening number, the magicians parading and introduced, until the Taiwanese “Manipulator,” Eric Chien makes cards and coins appear and disappear.

Close up magic gives way to “The Inventor,” Kevin James’ workshop featuring severed heads and other body parts that he reassembles. The elves, saucy blonds in candy stripe, sashay about, ready to assist. Then “The Showman” Dom Chambers from Melbourne makes beer appear out of paper bags and boots, with Siri as his assistant. From France, “The Unforgettable” Enzo Weyne distracts with a teleportation machine, popping up where you least expect him.

“Mentalist” Chris Cox may read minds, but he’s really great at making animal silhouettes using his hands. But my favorite trick of the night goes back to Paul Dabek who reaches into his bag for a loaf of bread, calling it a “deck of carbs.” Toasted into one slice was . . . .