Number 359 - 12th May 2007
71st
British Ring IBM Convention 12th-16th September 2007 - updates. Three
weeks ago we announced the names of some of the stars of magic already
booked: The Great Tomsoni & Co., Paul Zenon, Les Bubb, David Williamson,
Gaeton Bloom, Michael Vincent, Rocco, Scott & Muriel, Rafael (photo), Tim
Gabrielson, Joanie Spina, Murray Hatfield & Teresa, Lennart Green, Bill
Malone, Boris Wild, Magic Al, Vik & Fabrini and last year's Shield Winner
Paul Dabek. We now have more venue details. As well as the Southport
Theatre and Floral Hall, this year the Arts Theatre in Lord Street will year be
utilised on a much larger scale than in previous years. It not only boasts a
475 theatre with tiered seating, but also a Studio and Conference Room.
The intimacy of the Theatre is ideal for the International Close-up Show
and lectures, some of which will be repeated. This year's facilities will
afford performers and spectators the very best possible performing/viewing
conditions. The Children's Showtime will once again be staged in the Arts
Theatre on the Saturday afternoon and plans are in hand for a cutting-edge
show to be staged there late on Thursday evening. Contact Registration
Officer, Neville Johnson, for an application form on 01202 873234 or email
nevillejohnson25@aol.com.
12.5.07
Just like that! Tommy Cooper's final days. "He was the comedians'
comedian, whose unique combination of surreal humour and inept magic
captivated the nation. Now the producer of 'The Queen' is to dramatise the
last week of a life which ended so dramatically - in the middle of a
show..." To read the full story by Arifa Akbar and Jonathan Brown in
The Independent
Click Here.
12.5.07
"Together
we were pure gold" Magicians opens across the UK on Friday
18th May. Brilliant in Peepshow, it will be interesting to see how
David Mitchell and Robert Webb use their joint talents when tackling the ancient art of
magic! Synopsis: "Lifelong friends Harry and Karl are the greatest magic
double act in the country. But after a guillotine illusion goes horribly
and spectacularly wrong, their friendship and their careers are finished.
Now, down on his luck and out of cash, Harry sets his sights on the prize
money of the prestigious 'International Magic Shield' tournament. But to
win he will have to compete against the world's oddest (and saddest)
magicians - including his deadly rival Karl, performing under the guise of
ridiculous psychic 'The Mindmonger'. Can new tricks and a new assistant
(Jessica Stevenson from 'Confetti' and 'Spaced') help Harry to triumph
over his underhanded opponents and his disastrous past?"
Click Here. Film Weekly podcast
Click Here. "That Mitchell And Webb Movie"
Click Here.
12.5.07
Boris
Wild lectures for International Magic on May 15th from 7.15pm. Venue:
2nd floor at the 'Casa Italiana', 136 Clerkenwell Road, London EC1R 5DL (Map).
The venue is only 40 yards from International's shop at number 89. To book
contact Martin
martin@internationalmagic.com or telephone 020 7405 7324. Entrance is
£15, payable on the evening.
www.internationalmagic.com. Boris will be 'guest of honour' at the
next year's FFFF convention in the States.
12.5.07
The Bristol Day of Magic
- tomorrow! Sunday 13th May, at the
Weston-super-Mare
Winter Gardens
complex. The programme includes: lectures, close-up magic, children's
magic, magic dealers and an evening gala show at the Playhouse Theatre.
Featured artists include Norbert Ferré and David Stone from France, Guy
Barrett, Scott Penrose, Mel Harvey, Trixie Bond from the USA, Marc Oberon,
Keith Fields, Alex Lodge, Manuel Muerte from Germany, Romany and the John
Lenehan One Man Show.
www.bristolmagic.co.uk.
12.5.07
An
Audience with Paul Daniels. Saturday, May 19th, At The Brewhouse in
Taunton. "One of the UK's most well-known and loved comedians and
entertainers takes to the stage." 7.45pm. Tickets are £14 from the box
office on 01823 283244 or online:
www.thebrewhouse.net.
12.5.07
The
Merchant of Magic
www.magicshop.co.uk have opened a new "bricks and mortar" magic shop
in Waterlooville, Hampshire (Map)
which is open to magicians of all ages and abilities. With thousands of
magic tricks in stock, full time professional magician demonstrators,
workshops and tuition classes, the shop has a lot to offer and is open
Monday to Friday 10am to 4pm (and Saturdays from 2nd June). Mention
"MagicWeek" when you visit in person and you'll be offered a 10% discount
until the end of June! Merchant of Magic Ltd. 39 Brambles Enterprise
Centre, Waterburry Drive, Waterlooville, Hampshire PO7 7TH. Telephone
02392 252220.
12.5.07
Ravi
Mayar is featured in the current edition of The Asian Today: "It’s a
Kind of Magic - Tricks and a whole load of Treats with Ravi Mayar. Ravi
Mayar is all together a different kind of Asian man. He's shunned a career
as a high flying doctor or a number juggling accountant to take on a
career many would never contemplate. Ravi Mayar is a magician, and a jolly
good one to! Born in London, the energetic man spent most of his life in
Canada where he found himself drawn to card trickery. Today Ravi is one of
the world's leading magicians..." To read the full story in The Asian
Today
Click Here. Ravi is fast making a name for himself, and is seen here
with Janet Smith, Director of the recent Flora London Marathon, at which
he entertained.
www.ravimayar.com.
12.5.07
Mark
Worgan presents his "Simply Professional" lecture at
The
British Magical Society in Birmingham on May 15th. The lecture
features comedy stand-up magic with tips on comic timing and how to use it
in your act, plus a look at entertaining children (Mark has nearly 20
years experience in this field), and close-up magic too! So, something for
everyone in a packed two-hour presentation. Mark has been cruising all
around the world this year - making it one of his busiest ever.
www.markworgan.co.uk.
12.5.07
Watch
this video clip! Last week under "Quirkology" we featured a link to
this video, produced by Professor Richard Wiseman, via his site
www.quirkology.com.
The actual video is on YouTube, where last week it reached number one in
the ratings! As I type this (Friday night) it has been seen over half a
million times! Here's the direct YouTube link:
Click
Here.
5.5.07
When
Paul Craven presented his act for his Magic Circle exam on St George's
Day, he joked that his performance in plastercast had nothing to do with
fighting any dragons - in fact he had recently broken his leg on the
slopes of Austria. However determined not to postpone his examination
date, he hobbled on to perform his routine in the Devant Room at The Magic
Circle, discarded his crutches and literally did his audition on one leg
in front of around 60 magicians. "To achieve MMC status is therefore a
great thrill" said Paul "although the whole experience has taught me that
taking up snowboarding aged 42 is about as sensible as me attempting
Houdini's Water Torture Cell!"
12.5.07
Magician
and shadowgrapher Philippe Beau designed and performed hand
shadows for the current French advertising campaign for Cortal Consors. Cortal
Consors use a hand in their logo, hence their choice. To watch a short video
Click
Here. Philippe's very slick website:
www.hand-shadow.com.
12.5.07
Edinburgh's
"Tricky" Ricky McLeod has just won the Max Raskin Cup / Scottish
Children's Entertainer of the Year 2007/2008 for a fourth time! The award
was presented to Ricky at the annual dinner of The Scottish Association of
Magical Societies convention which was held in Montrose. Ricky was also
presented with the Millennium Shield from his local magic club West
Lothian Magic Circle for services to the club and Scottish Magic. His
highly successful lecture "Tricks of My Trade" has recently been seen at
the Blackpool Magicians' Convention, Wolverhampton Circle of Magicians and
the British Magical Society. Ricky is now taking bookings for the lecture
which focuses on Children's/Family shows. Contact Ricky directly for
details: ricky@trickyricky.com.
12.5.07
The
Magic Circle presented A Tribute to Billy McComb on May 8th at its
London headquarters. Noel Britten coordinated the evening, bringing
together friends and colleagues from all over the world to share memories,
and often very funny (and almost unrepeatable!) stories, of Billy McComb.
It was a great night. Mandy Davis reports the evening:
Click Here.
12.5.07
Rob
Lupine can be heard on Harborough FM community radio from 1.30pm on
Monday 14th May. A Close-up Champion of the Magic Club of Great Britain,
Rob will be talking about a number of upcoming appearances, including
entertaining movie goers with close-up magic at the Odeon Cinema in
Kettering on May 18th and 19th at the opening of Magicians. HFM website
Click
Here. Odeon cinema, Kettering: 0871 2244007.
www.lupinemagic.com.
12.5.07
Tony
Binarelli lectures at the Exonian Magical Society (Devon) on Sunday
20th May at 2pm. Visiting magicians welcome (£8.00 charge). Contact Brain
Marr for details: 01823 665998. On May 14th he's in Kent and May 23rd
Scarborough - see What's On
for details.
12.5.07
Happy Days! 5pm on Saturday 12th May on
Five US. "The Magic Show - Howard and Al co-chair a Leopard
Lodge fundraising event. When the magician they hired manages to injure
himself during a trick, Fonzie suggests another." James Randi guest stars,
see TV Magic.
12.5.07
"Electronic Frontier Foundation sues Uri Geller"
Click Here •
"Real or illusion? Magician Angel lets viewers decide"
Click Here •
"Interview: Paul McEneaney - The Magic Of It"
Click Here •
"Vegas run by gays and Jews, says magician"
Click Here •
Safire promoted to MIMC
Click Here •
"Review put online, prompts legal threat to actor"
Click Here •
Congratulations to Darren McDonald winner of the Yorkshire Pride Close-up
Competition at Leeds Day of Magic on Sunday 6th May •
Your UK magic news is always welcome - see you next week, Duncan. 12.5.07