Cosentino: The Magic, The Mystery, The Madness

A year in the making, Cosentinos high-adrenalin mix of all new spectacular stage illusions, death-defying escapes and stunts are the most dangerous he has ever attempted. A spinning steel blade Scorpion is set to cut him in half. 15 razor sharp knives are loaded in a rack that could plunge through his head. Six metres underwater, Cosentino will be chained inside a metal cage with literally seconds to live. Cosentino is Australias answer to Houdini and is the number one illusionist in the country. Featuring footage from his packed out audiences at Melbournes The Palms At Crown and unbelievable impromptu street tricks with the public, Cosentino opens the doors to his private world inviting cameras for the first time backstage during his test runs. This time we pull back the curtain and let the viewers into my world with behind the scenes footage of what it takes to create a dangerous stunt, and what can happen if it goes wrong, says Cosentino. Cosentino does not hide the harsh reality of the risks involved. The cameras keep rolling when rehearsals grind to a halt and Cosentino is sent to hospital to undergo surgery.

Cosentinos The Magic, The Mystery, The Madness: Part Two is a high-adrenalin mix of spectacular street magic, and death-defying escapes and stunts - the most dangerous he has ever attempted.V8 Supercar driver Rick Kelly makes a special guest appearance teaching Cosentino techniques to improve his reflexes in preparation for the death-defying Point Bank spinning wheel stunt.In this diabolical escape, Cosentino is shackled to a spinning wheel and has seconds to free himself before an arsenal of crossbows, bear traps and steel spikes finish him off. People in the past have called me insane, Cosentino says. This time I would say I have to agree with them.

Challenging the traditional conventions of illusion, Cosentino puts a call out to his massive fan base and receives more than 400 video applications from people wanting to be his next assistant. He shortlists four finalists and puts them under hypnosis in preparation for his most puzzling stunt to date - to levitate a member of the public whom he has never met or worked with before. Also in this finale episode of The Magic, The Mystery, The Madness, Cosentino is chained into a wooden box and placed at the base of a busy public skateboarding bowl. With no possible trapdoors, or other escape options, he is surrounded by public bystanders as he attempts to free himself without touching any of the locks. Cosentino's off-stage action continues as he ventures into public bars to challenge doubters and skeptics. With his back turned and eyes closed, Cosentino attempts to mind-read the taste on the lips of volunteers who sip different flavoured drinks. Revealing his softer side, Cosentino visits his old high school and recounts his struggle with literacy as his teacher tells how this shy and introverted teenager transformed himself into a confident, spell binding performer.