Spending almost a decade in the Nevada desert doesn't appear to have been detrimental to Penn & Teller.

The 35-year-old one-of-a-kind act, which blends wiseguy verbal comedy, circus sideshow stunts and a hilariously cynical approach to magic has left its gilded home at the Rio casino in Las Vegas for a three-night stand at Harrah's Resort Atlantic City--their first AyCee visit in many years. And they are as entertaining and astounding as ever.

Armed with what appeared to be close to an hour's worth of new-to-the-East Coast bits, Penn Jillette (the one who talks) and the virtually silent Teller (that's his legal name) turned in a typically strong set that ably showcased their individual and collective talents.

As the booming-voiced Penn filled the Concert venue with his trademark, non-stop, wiseguy patter, the team kept the audience enthralled with such how-did-they-do-that? shtick as mind reading, levitation, fire eating and several hilarious "tricks" that really weren't, but which were staged just to fool randomly selected audience members to great comedic effect.

Among these were a sequence in which a blindfolded woman is led to believe she has become an expert knife-thrower, when actually, Penn, with the help of Teller, simply placed the daggers on strategic parts of a backboard.

It probably doesn't sound like much here in Cyberspace, but trust me, it's hilarious.

Some 20 years ago, in a review of Penn & Teller's show at the Merriam Theater on Broad Street, I wrote that seeing the duo perform was the most fun a person could have in public. I stand by that statement.