|
|
Kasrani Presents... A Show of
Extraordinary Magic
Starring James More, Magic Singh and
Kasrani
The Landmarc, Bournemouth
19th November 2007
Reviewed by Mike Danata
Well!
where do I start?
Firstly, can you believe a whole show of magic in Bournemouth's premier
nightclub, in the centre of town, on a Monday night? The show being completely
"Sold Out" (at £35.00 per head too!) before the ink had dried on the very
impressive posters? Well you'd better believe it because that's what happened!!
So who was the genius behind this incredible piece of marketing?
The genius behind the show and its marketing was indeed Kasrani himself.
Who is Kasrani you may well ask? Well, because I know, I am going to tell you:
Kasrani is a young twenty something year old, born in Iraq, brought up in
Greece, and now living in Bournemouth. He is obsessed by magic, lives and
breathes it every day of his life. Kasrani has picked up quite a reputation as a
"Street Performer" in the centre of Bournemouth, but he also does close-up magic
in many of the towns clubs and bars. He has also performed for top celebs, and
royalty, (so he tells me). I was also told last night by someone who knows him
well, that he lives just five minutes away from the town centre, but to walk
just the five minutes from his home can take an hour or more, he stops and talks
to everyone, many people already know him, and of course he brings a little
magic into their lives! He has an overpowering personality, a style that's very
"street" i.e. scruffy looking, dreadlocked hair, loud, brash, swears a lot, but
there is something extremely likeable about him. I predicted a while back on
talkmagic forum, that he was someone in the magic world to watch out for, and
indeed you must!
The other two guys in the show were Magic Singh and James More (both of whom I
also predicted a great future for on talkmagic forum!) I never knew then that
the "Tricky Trio" would be appearing together, so it was quite a coincidence,
after what I had previously said, regarding all three.
Magic Singh, who's family originates from India, looks very Indian, but is
actually very English, and extremely well spoken.
James More a local lad who is destined to go far, I've said much about him in
print already.......
O.K. so now on with the show itself:
"Ladies and Gentlemen your host for this evening KASRANI!"
Kasrani enters the stage, and welcomes the audience, he produces a Birthday Cake
from a giant pan, for a celebrity guest in the audience, and then introduces his
first act, "James More!"
James does his act as known, with the Pool table theme (to be honest there was a
couple of hiccups in this performance but he still pulled it off!):
Multiplying Balls, Appearances, Vanishes, Dancing Cue Stick, Card productions,
both regular and jumbo, leading up to Giant Ball productions at the end etc etc.
James was concerned that he wouldn't do so well at this show, because Kasrani
had sold most of the tickets himself to all his followers, and only two or three
people were there for him. He needn't have worried, because everyone loved him,
whooping and cheering all the way through, in fact if the audience were anything
to go by, he stole the show! Truly a world class act, and is well on his way,
especially after his appearance at the Stage Newspaper's Annual Showcase a few
weeks ago, to which he received a great review in last weeks Stage newspaper,
plus (more importantly!) some lucrative contracts abroad!
I watched James's performance from a side view off stage, and was amazed at some
of the methods he employs for the "Steals" (he wore no jacket!) hours and hours
of practice would have been utilised to get the split second timing needed to
pull off the effects, my hat really does go off to him, for his dedication.
Kasrani then comes back and introduces his next act:
"Magic Singh!"
Magic Singh enters the stage with an Indian Takeaway bag in his hand, most of
his act was inside the bag! His act was mostly a comedy patter act, where he
spoke for the first part with an Indian accent, which was very funny, before he
reverted back to himself, with his usual well spoken voice. His first effect was
a flattened card box that produced a whole pack of cards to a big gasp from the
audience! He vanished a girls ring, and it appeared in a sealed Pot Noodle pot,
the look of amazement on the young girls face as she opened it up herself to
discover it, had to be seen to be believed!
Magic Singh then removed an empty squished up coke can from his takeaway bag,
and "Brought it back to life" to the delight of his audience. Some audience
participation followed with the twisting arm illusion, where he got everyone in
the audience to "Have a go" which was a lot of fun. Then with another volunteer,
he performed the Sketch Pad Card Rise. Much of his patter effects were enhanced
with music in the background, which really worked well. He has a gentle and
polite manner, and the magic was very "Magical" and not drawn out. The audience
really warmed to him. He finished to music, with an empty bottle that became
filled with coke, in a waft of smoke, (it all looked very mysterious!) the coke
changed to a silk, which then changed to a cane, beautifully executed, with
fantastic music, a very well rehearsed and original act, the audience loved him,
he received a great ovation.
I then introduce "The star of the evening, " THE ONE and ONLY KASRANI!"
Kasrani enters complete with Rucksack on his back! Started off with the Razor
Blade trick performed to Greek music, the props mostly coming from the rucksack.
Kasrani is the complete opposite to his guests, he is edgy, unrehearsed,
outrageous! takes risks, and plays a lot on the fact that he is from Iraq, after
the Razor Blades he proudly announced that he was born in Iraq, and he stood to
attention as the Iraqi National Anthem was played (to complete silence in the
audience, one might add!) after the Anthem had finished, he announced that it
had been rewritten by Blair and Bush, and then requested that the new version be
played, to which we heard sirens and bombs going off! with a "Da Da" at the very
end. This did get a laugh, but I'm sure that some people may have felt guilty
for the laughter it extracted. Kasrani takes risks as I've already stated!
Kasrani then performs some of his Street Style Magic but this time on stage. He
shows some very nifty shuffles including the Russian Shuffle, but looses the
gag, by saying "One card rushes after the other" instead of "One card Russian
after the other"
The Indian shuffle where he slaps his face with the cards (to kill the flies)
between shuffles (got a big laugh, once he explained it!) and of course the
Iraqi shuffle, where he shuffles the cards, ducking and diving as if to miss the
bullets!! (the audience did laugh). He then did Bang On, the any card to wallet
effect, which could have been stronger, but for the fact that he KNEW everyone
in the audience and drew attention to this fact! at one point he had so many
other people shouting out cards, as well as the "selected person" because they
thought he was a stooge!! so the effect was weakened. I think he should have got
a toy hand grenade, pulled the pin out and threw it over his shoulder to allow
someone to catch it (can't believe I just suggested that! but it does fit with
his "Theme").
He then got a girl up from the audience to show her a "Penetration Effect with a
rubber" and showed her Crazy Mans Handcuffs, which I really thought was too
small for a big stage (with no big screen) but the audience did respond and
applaud, so what do I know? We then had jokes about cocaine, joints, and Bob
Marley! a cigarette appeared in his mouth, which when lit, vanished in a flash,
and a rose appeared which was given to his young lady helper, which I thought
was quite charming. He then turned raisins into wine, saying that people DO
drink alcohol in Iraq, (as well as them doing lots of other things, which they
claim they don't!! but just not as much of it, as we do in the west!). Kasrani
then vanished a £10 from a spectator, and it ended up in a kiwi fruit. He then
performed the Mona Lisa effect with the jig saw puzzle pieces, which was very
effective, and got a great reaction from the audience. He finished with the
production of red lights at the fingertips (all choreographed to music, complete
with "Dance") as they were dropped into a bag, and you saw them cascade down one
at a time, as the bag filled up. Very magical and visually very pleasing!
All in all, an enjoyable show, I'm still not sure about Kasrani being a stage
magician, I do think he's got something though, he has a way with people, a
unique style, and as I said in my intro he really is "THE ONE and ONLY!"
All three were brought back on stage at the end, and I think everyone had a good
time...............
© Mike Danata, November 2007