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Blackpool Magicians’ Club’s 61st
Annual Convention
February 22nd – 24th 2013
Photos by Daniel Eden
Reported by Walt Lees
Photos © www.eden-photography.net used with permission.
To view or purchase official Blackpool Convention photos visit www.eden-photography.net 'Proofing' and enter BMCDAY1 or BMCDAY2 or BMCDAY3
Blackpool continues to go from strength to strength with a new all-time high attendance this year of over 3,400 registrants, maintaining its place as the world’s largest, most star-studded and action-packed convention.
Friday 22nd February saw lectures by Jay Scott Berry, Nicholas Einhorn, Dirk
Losander, Colin McLeod, Johan Stahl and Matthew Wright, as well as a blistering
display of close-up hosted by Steve Evans, which included performances by Phil
Cass. Nicholas Einhorn, Patrick Lehnen, Jan Logemann, Simon Lovell, Mark Mason,
Joe Monti and Anthony Owen.
Apart from compere Vittorio Marino, whose stilt-walking gags and assorted
caricature cameos added a touch of European humour, the entire evening show was
a South Korean affair. That country’s principal magical coach and mentor, Yuji
Yasuda, opened the bill in full Samurai costume, with an act featuring parasols.
As always, with the current batch of young Korean maestri, there were striking
levels of skill, creativity, originality and enthusiastic energy. Highlights
included: Haon Gun’s work with T-shirts and drink cans; Ted Kim’s remarkable act
incorporating projected lighting and graphics combined with manipulative skills;
FISM winner Yu Ho Jin’s stylish card productions and Lee Hun, whose manipulation
act brought the house down when it suddenly went into high-speed rewind mode at
the finish – everything that had taken place being rapidly done in reverse (all
the discarded items floated back into his hands, and vanished), Others taking
part were: Kim Hyun Joon, Lukas, Nicky Yang and Yang Jae Yeong in a show that
was going to take some topping on the subsequent nights.
Saturday brought lectures by: Jan Logemann, Simon Lovell, David Merry, Anthony
Owen, Michael Webber, David Williamson, Yuji Yasuda and Zeki Yoo.
The morning’s main event was The British Children’s Entertainer National
Championships hosted by Colonel Custard aka Paul Megram. Competitors were
Captain Calamity, Colin Dymond, Mr Banana Head, Puzzling Paul, David Tricks and
Zoobee. The last-named was the winner, having wisely chosen to work in front of
the tabs, keeping the stage area as small as possible and generating a sense of
intimacy. Colin Dymond, who was runner-up, did the same. A couple of the
performers elected to work on the vast full stage, which generally meant being
too far back and “losing contact” with the audience. In 3rd place was Captain
Calamity, who really lived up to his name when a number of unplanned mishaps
forced him to rework his entire running order and make changes on the spur of
the moment. To his credit, he refused to be fazed, soldiered on and won over the
audience.
Lunchtime brought The Wayne Dobson and Friends Show to the Pavilion
Theatre, where, with the assistance of Michael J. Fitch, Wayne introduced: Simon
Lovell, Colin McLeod, Mel Mellers and Joe Monti. The accent was heavily on
comedy, with the biggest laughs coming for Simon, who had been “persuaded” to
resurrect his one-time signature straitjacket routine, complete with Sooty
puppet and a rubber hand gag.
The afternoon saw Magic Speed Dating where the audience sat around 10
tables and that number of stellar performers spent 10 minutes with each group
either answering questions or demonstrating one of their specialities. Those
taking part were: Jay Scott Berry, Phil Cass, Simon Lovell, Colin McLeod, Mark
Mason, Joe Monti, Harry Robson, Johan Stahl, Michael Webber and David
Williamson.
The International Gala that evening was emceed, somewhat surprisingly by
Jay Scott Berrry, who admitted that this was a novel experience for a usually
silent worker. The opening act was Antje Pode, whose foot juggling with
suitcases garnered tremendous applause. Then came Dirk Losander, who seems to
have appeared on one show or another at every Blackpool convention in living
memory, with his bubble and table-floating act as known. Phil Cass, on the other
hand, was a new face. With his assistant Philippa, he put the accent firmly on
comedy, garnering much laughter and applause. In complete contrast, Natalie &
Eli, a female duo from Switzerland, combined dance, multiple quick change and
massive stage-filling feather flower productions in what must be one of the most
colourful spectacles currently on the magic scene.
The second half opened with Philip Hitchcock’s manipulations and dove
productions, leading up to a remarkable (and applause-pulling) twist on the
usual cage vanish with which most such acts finish. Mel Mellers, who followed,
was on top form and provided the comedy high-spot of the whole convention. In
complete contrast, The Laserman (Theo Doré) of France, gave a spectacular
display of manipulating light beams, which combined technology with magical
skill, in an act which is unlike anything else around at the moment (until the
inevitable copyists begin to crawl out). The show closed in spectacular manner
with Holland’s Prince of Illusions team in a mind-numbing plethora of high-speed
mysteries, which even had those, who do not usually appreciate this kind of
magic, applauding and cheering.
During the show, Joe Monti and Lorenzo Clark made unbilled appearances to
“instruct” the compere in the art of being funny, while the latter, at one point
sang live, one of the songs he has recorded.
After the show, Magic Sam and Andrew James ran their late-night Beat the Wand
gong-contest, which has now become an established feature. Boozy, vulgar and
raucous, this event probably reflects the true face of stand-up magic as seen in
pubs and clubs around the country. Competitors included: John Carey, Daniel
Carmel, Craig Davis, George Firehorse, Liam, PJ and Doc Strange. Only 2 acts
failed to beat the wand and were accompanied to the junkyard by the Steptoe &
Son theme (Geoff Love’s Old Ned). The winner was George Firehorse, whose
“Monkey of Truth” feature caused a near riot; in 2nd place came PJ with his
disastrous attempts to perform standard effects while in full Mickey Mouse
costume, which were very funny and frequently accompanied by language emerging
from the rodent’s mouth that would have had any Disney suits hotlining their
corporate lawyers. 3rd was Liam, whose work with yoyos really thrilled the crowd
– no laughs, just pure skill.
Sunday brought lectures by: Phil Cass, Gary Dunn, Michael J. Fitch, Patrick
Lehnen, Mark Mason, Mel Mellers, Joe Monti and Natalie & Eli (assisted by
Ritonio).
The Master Class in the Pavilion, hosted by Jeremy Guest, allotted Phil Cass,
Colin McLeod, Mark Mason, Joe Monti, Johan Stahl and Michael Webber 12 minutes
each to teach one item. While Michael Webber stuck to this, demonstrating one
potential of an electronic homing device when combined with the classic
Invisible Deck, most of the others did more than one thing and some, like Joe
Monti, with a brilliant impression of Slydini, just entertained and had fun.
Steve Evans hosted the International Close-up Magic in the afternoon,
introducing: Jay Scott Berry, Dirk Losander, David Merry, Johan Stahl, Michael
Webber, David Williamson, Matthew Wright and Zeki Yoo.
The final International Gala Show was emceed by David Merry, who could
probably pass himself off as Joe Monti’s brother, if he so wished. Plenty of
comedy to keep the show moving along. The incredible diablo juggling and
acrobatic skills of Tony Freebourg got things off to a lively start. Then
followed the black-art magic of Les Chapeaux Blancs, who can be baffling at
times, even though you know the underlying principles of what they do.
David Williamson went down a storm with his raccoon and a handful of children
from the audience. Only he could get away with roughly manhandling the
youngsters as he does; anyone else would probably find themselves in court. But
with him the audience and the kids love it. A complete contrast was Galina’s
balletic Linking Ring act, where the magic is very much secondary to the
movement, dressing and lighting. To close the first half was Yann Frisch with
his FISM-winning close-up which combines Cup & Ball magic with comedy, mime and
juggling – plus a surprise finish that caught us all out.
After the interval, Derek Lever presented the Murray Award to Gay Ljungberg (the
regular FISM stage director for many years), who in turn brought on the entire
Blackpool stage crew, whom he described as “the best in the world”. Then
octogenarian (and still working) comedy veteran Ken Dodd OBE presented his
trophy to Mel Mellers, before launching into a 20-minute routine of rapid-fire
gags, as only he can.
Mark & Alex plus an unnamed woman, were a team of illusionists from Germany, who
kicked off the magic proper. Then came Sonny Hayes & Co (the “& Co” being Galina
who had appeared earlier) with a well-worked-out, ultra-slick act of graceful
comedy, which started low-key but got progressively funnier.
To close the show, came Marko Karvo and partner, yet more FISM winners, who have
taken bird magic to new heights producing not only doves, but budgerigars,
cockatoos and an enormous parrot, together with appropriately-sized cages. A
spectacular feature is the way in which the birds fly over the audience and
return to the stage; something that helped generate the excitement which
contributed to their standing ovation.
For those who were still hungry for yet more magic, the After Gala Show Party
followed with cabaret compered by Karl K and featuring: George Kovari Junior,
High Jinx and Matthew Wright, plus close-up.
Throughout the convention, some 120 dealers were showing and selling, while
caricaturist Robert Ormesher was on hand to draw portraits for those who wished.
And Kenny Bowe exhibited a display of his collection of vintage playbills.
For all the stage shows, Dave Windle handled the music, Duncan Jump stage
managed and Russ Brown was stage director.
Derek Lever was the overall organiser of the entire convention, assisted by:
Arthur Casson (registrations), June Casson (registrations), Annette Claire
(media co-ordination), Jeremy Guest (after show party and joint chief steward),
Pat Guest (after show party), Danny Hunt (media co-ordination), Karl K
(assistant security officer), Anne Lever (organiser’s PA), Russ Lowe (lecturer’s
sales), David Plant (assistant organiser, close-up and joint chief steward), Les
Pybus (security), Harry Robson (close-up and dealers), Christine Shepherd
(treasurer’s PA), Mike Shepherd (treasurer) and Russ Stevens (assistant
organiser).
Next year’s dates are 21st – 23rd February 2014.
© Walt Lees, March 2013