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10th Leamington & Warwick Day of Magic
19th June 2013
Reviewed by Elizabeth Warlock
The sun shone when 150 magicians gathered for the 10th Leamington & Warwick
Magic Society’s Day of Magic on Wednesday June 19 with Paul Kybert presiding. It
was sponsored by former president Mick McCreath, who also donated the prize
money for the evening close-up competition, and included breakfast, lunch and
later a barbecue. The event actually kicked off the evening before with a
dealers demonstration and a lecture by Mick McCreath on mental miracles.
On the day itself folk were able to browse around the many dealers from around
the country and take in some great lectures. Jamie Allan showed how various
close-up effects could be effectively adapted for stage with the use of a
camera, projector and screen, including a beautiful rendition of the McDonald
Aces, the vanish of a card case a la Paul Daniels, Gypsy Thread using a special
UV thread to make it more visible on a large stage, and film of him performing
Any Card at Any Number. No wonder Jamie is in such demand with audiences on both
sides of the Atlantic, and on the cruise ships.
Blackpool Children’s prize winner Zoobee delighted attendees with tricks and
routines relating to themes throughout the year suh as Easter, and Xmas with
puppets and magic effects. Luke Jermay showed how it was possible to tell if the
face of a card was red or black from a shuffled face down deck, did a Living and
Dead Test using only live names coupled with cold reading, and a three person
mind reading test based on the Hoy Tossed Out Deck principle. He also
demonstrated coin bending although this was not explained.
James Brown had a novel idea for performing at a table by using a tall upturned
glass to rest a deck of cards, thereby enabling him to perform effects like the
revelation of a chosen card at the top and then the bottom of the glass, the
card under the box, card to wallet and a phone and credit card routine, all so
expertly executed.
In the hands-on workshop Mike Gancia presented a Kirigami effect (paper cutting)
suitable for weddings, a commercial torn and restored card, and a borrowed coin
in the hand date divination.
An additional event this year was the inclusion of the Luke Jermay show in a 60
minute demonstration of his unique style of mentalism.
In the Champion of Champions close-up competition comprising winners from six
Midlands societies, first prize went to Craig Petty from Birmingham who in a
brilliant performance gave us the revelation of a signed coin in a nest of small
wallets, the manipulation of the appearing and disappearing pen in the style of
Rick Merrill, the signed card under the card box and an hilarious prediction
using a spectator, coloured pens and a picture. Second prize went to Will Gray
from Leicester with Gypsy thread, the production of a live goldfish from the
jacket of a spectator, a card effect involving the production of a red pool ball
revealing the number of the card from a wallet and the signed card found in a
sealed deck. Taking third prize was Bernard Visgandis from Coventry with a rope
routine, ring off rope, coins to pocket and borrowed ring to wallet.
Emceeing throughout the day was shared by Paul Kybert and Steve Evans.
It was a great day filled with some excellent magic.
© Elizabeth Warlock, June 2013