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British Magical Society Annual Dinner and Dance
Ramada Hotel in Sutton Coldfield
28th March 2009
Reported by John Ward
On Saturday 28 March the British Magical Society held its Annual Dinner and
Dance at the Ramada Hotel in Sutton Coldfield. Whilst attendance was down on
previous years, those who were present had an extremely enjoyable evening which
featured a incredible cabaret. Each dinner is themed by the outgoing President
around their personal magical interest, so this year President Pat Cross chose
‘Magic Circus’ to reflect his alter ego ‘Pat the Clown’. In his clown make-up
Pat – who has also been a successful illusionist and cabaret performer – has
performed at children’s parties as well as working major venues like Drayton
Manor and events such as the Walsall Illuminations in the Midlands. To reflect
the theme had the room decorated with ‘Big Top’ centrepieces and posters of
famous circuses through history.
At these occasions speeches are usual. Pat Cross gave one as the outgoing
President, as did Mike Gancia as the President-Elect. Mike O’Brien representing
the many guests at the evening gave a speech which was particularly well
received. Following the speeches was the customary presentation of awards and
trophies under the careful guidance of Paul Cadley. Allen Merrell was presented
with a Tankard for Fifty Years Membership, comments that he must have joined in
middle age were quickly rebuked Nathan Croft was given the Ray Bradbury Close-Up
Trophy, Chris Jonah was awarded the Roy Eddington Pocket Tricks Drive Trophy,
Steve Evans with the Bundini Award, the F. E. Walker Trophy to John H. Price and
the Society Jewel to Chris Jonah and Nathan Croft. The prestigious David Berglas
Award presented to a British magician who has made an outstanding contribution
was made to Roy Walton. Both Roy and David were unable to make the Dinner, but
Roy who created such classics as ‘Card Warp’ fits easily in the company of other
recipients such as Alex Elmsely, Mark Raffles and the late Ali Bongo.
After the meal was the cabaret, and what a cabaret which really was the
highlight of the evening. As well as having a reputation for having one of the
best programme of lectures in the country, the BMS also is well known for
compiling a good cabaret at the dinner. This year the compère was John Archer, a
seasoned comedy performer whose experience at working with real audiences shone
through. Able to work the crowd, particularly with his interaction with members
of the audience or victims, John warmed them up well.
John was not being a comedian tonight, but a comedy magician. Although the magic
was not technically groundbreaking, the way it was presented and performed could
not have been better. The effects used were superb vehicles for John’s comedy,
each routine had been finely honed. Beginning by ‘swallowing’ an inflated
balloon, John performed a humorous song on the ukulele. Other effects were the
‘Magic Square’ where John managed to get fantastic gems out of using members of
the audience…who would have thought the ‘Magic Square’ would be funny…and also
to hype the effect up. Another mental effect that is the stalwart of the
magician – the ‘Book Test’ – was played big by John who once again got the
audience fully involved. John was an excellent opening act and indeed he made a
good compére dealing admirably with unforeseen problems.
Now being the squeamish type...if anyone is double-jointed and tries to show me
I head for the wilderness or Wolverhampton as it is known here in Birmingham
(that was a joke, no complaints please)…Delia Du Sol’s act was not quite to my
taste. Yet this contortionist was I am reliably informed excellent, indeed the
way many members of the audience stood up to watch her perform showed how
popular she was. The routine she did this evening climaxed with her drinking a
glass of water that was behind her on the floor whilst not moving her feet or
using her hands before she squeezed herself into a small Perspex box. Even
though I watched her act out of the corner of my eye I have huge admiration for
her talent and hard-work that is involved…such as the warm-ups she has to do
before going on…yet I cannot help but think how on earth she worked out she
could do this stuff.
The cabaret was closed by Amethyst. As a Society the BMS are very lucky to have
such a good relationship with the fantastic illusion double-act of Danny and
Annette. Once again Amethyst did not disappoint. In an act crammed full of
magic, they varied the tempo and mixed large illusions with elegant classics to
create a well rounded performance with something to appeal to all. Indeed there
were no fewer than nine effects and Annette wore at least five outfits during
the act. Indeed there was not just magic to recorded music, Annette even sang in
her beautiful voice to accompany Danny performed his version of a ‘Snowstorm in
China’. Yet this is enough about the act in summary…now let us look at what they
actually did.
Amethyst got off to a flaming good start when Danny whipped off the cloth that
had just covered a previously empty cage that had flames in it to produce
Annette. Annette was then locked into a clear box, a cloth held in front of the
box. When the cloth was dropped four and a half seconds later Annette was on top
of the box in a different costume. As a quick break from boxes and cabinets
Danny walked through a solid metal plate before getting Annette into another
box. This time once the tube and rods had been inserted into the lower half,
Danny – in a twist which I have not personally seen before – collapsed the top
half of the box. This drew a good applause, and rightly so as it was slickly
presented, and also led people to leave their chairs and stand around the edge
for a better view of this stunning act.
The first slowing of tempo came when Danny performed the ‘Colour Changing
Records’ by Pavel (who is lecturing for the BMS later this year) and then
continued with a silk vanish and restoration. Finally Danny did ‘In the News’,
although it always intrigue me why us magicians do not actually ‘vanish’ the
milk rather than bring it back. Finally, after ‘Snowstorm in China’ accompanied
by Annette’s singing, was the effect that many of us had waited for. When Danny
showed us footage of this illusion in a superbly entertaining and informative
lecture earlier this year the common consensus among members was that we would
love to see this live, and boy did it exceed our expectations. Once Annette had
climbed into the box of this mammoth prop and the door was closed, a metal plate
was pushed in. Then Danny pushed the top section of the box which had her head
and hand shown off the top of the bottom and along the rail which went around
the prop. The violent motion when it went back and forth on the underside of the
track was extremely theatrical. This got a rapturous reception from the audience
and even more when Annette reappeared unscathed. In summary this was a fabulous
act- featuring a good balance of classics and illusions – which climaxed with a
unique illusion which wowed all those present.
Whilst the Louise Mayer Duo played people talked about the evening and the great
success that it had been, rather than dance. The BMS had – according to the
consensus of opinion of those who attended – pulled off another superb dinner
featuring an excellent cabaret. Let us hope that the same can be achieved again
next year when President Mike Gancia hosts the 105th Dinner on the 27 March.
www.britishmagicalsociety.co.uk
© John Ward, April 2009