Illusion as a Transformative Force The enchantment is irresistible in Judd Ehrlich's documentary "Magic Camp," a spry and revealing examination of Tannen's Magic Camp, an annual weeklong July assembly of aspiring illusionists at Bryn Mawr College in Pennsylvania. The practitioners at Tannen's are serious: alumni include David Copperfield, David Blaine and the actor Adrien Brody. In classes like Advanced Stage Magic and Character Development, they are prodded to do their best by people like the compassionate but hard-driving instructor Hiawatha Johnson Jr. Young magicians, an instructor says, are often "trying to compensate for something." The film follows a few working toward a big closing competition: Zachariah Ivins, 15, overthinks onstage; the quietly intent Jonah Conlin, 12, is dyslexic; Brian Woodbridge, 19, has a history of Tourette's syndrome and attention deficit disorder; Zoe Reiches, 16, is one of 7 girls among 96 boys at Tannen's. Ms. Reiches, whose father is out of work, says magic makes her feel confident and in control. Reed Spool, 18, last year's champion, is a high school dropout who lost his mother at 7. Somewhat complacent, he waits until the last minute to hone his act. Some don't like sports. All, as performers do, seek love from the audience. And some, like Ms. Reiches, who has since become a counselor at the camp, seek to change the status quo. "There are a lot of acts that have women in the wrong sort of role," she says. I would love to see it reversed, with a female magician and a male assistant. The exuberant, irrepressible Ms. Reiches is just the person to do it.