Number 107 - 13th July 2002
Jay
Sankey heads a strong line-up at Mark Leveridge's 8th British
Close-up Magic Symposium on Sunday 6th April 2003 in Bath. Jay will be presenting a
90 minute lecture featuring both his close-up and stand up magic. Also on the
bill from home and abroad: Joachim Solberg, Richard Pinner, Roger Curzon, Lee
Davis and Sean Carpenter. Registrations
are limited to just 100 and all seats are numbered and allocated on a first
come, first served basis (and must be pre-booked). Although all seats have an
excellent view due to the tiered seating, the earlier you book then the nearer the
front you are likely to be. For more information, and to reserve your place, visit
the website:
markleveridge.co.uk
13.7.02
2002 British
Magical Champion David Penn was, for a second year in succession, booked to
perform backstage at this year's
London Mardi Gras. Seen here with boy band
Westlife following a major spoon bending session!
13.7.02
Seven
top performers from The Magic Circle will descend on the Golden Jubilee
Reigate Summer Music Festival in Surrey on Sunday 21st July, to present
Magic Circle Magic at the beginning of this week-long festival which is
otherwise devoted to music. Alan Shaxon, Terry Herbert, John Archer, Roy
Davenport (photo), Scott Penrose, John Styles and Peter Scarlett make up the show. For
more information visit the website:
musictrust.co.uk or to book tickets (£14 each) email Terry Damer:
terry.damer@dial.pipex.com
13.7.02
Fay
Presto was back in the news and in court last week defending her right to
ride her
Citybug rhinestone-clad scooter to gigs in London's West End without
insurance. The judge dismissed her appeal against a Southwark Crown Court ruling
back in January that the Citybug, imported from Taiwan, was not exempt from
insurance under the 1983 Electrically-assisted Pedal Cycle Regulations law stating:
"The critical finding of fact in the present case is that it would be impossible
for anyone to use this machine safely on the roads if reliance was placed on the
pedals alone."
13.7.02
Aha
- Alan Partridge now has his own website courtesy of the BBC that includes a
video clip of his interview with MagicWeek favourite Tony Le Mesmar,
Click Here
13.7.02
The
new Paul Harris effect Deep Astonishment is now available by return
from alakazam.co.uk
(under "Hot List 10" on their website) - and it seems that this one is causing quite a stir:
"Deep Astonishment may be the greatest single card effect ever invented!" Mac
King. Get clicking.
13.7.02
Close-up magician Rob
James reviews Ahead
of the Pack this week, the newly published book from Jack Avis
and Lewis Jones Click
Here (thanks Rob).
13.7.02
Brian
De Palma has made some great movies in his time but I've got a hunch
(or should that be hutch?) that this isn't one of them. Get to Know Your Rabbit
was made in 1972 and features Orson Welles coaching a salary man as he
gives up his job to become a magician. Sky Movies Cinema 1, on the 24th.
See TV Magic
13.7.02
52 Ways to Magic America
by James Flint looks like an essential read. "A wry story of illusion and
deception from the fading coastal resorts of England. Marty has been practising
magic since he was eight. He loves the attention, not least at school where his
deft card tricks offer him a way round the embarrassment of actually talking to
girls. But how can any serious magician who dreams of following his heroes
Siegfried & Roy to the glittering lights of Las Vegas, still be employing his
little sister as his assistant? A post-show drinks party at the Young Magician
of the Year at the Crucible in Sheffield, (the last event in the calendar before
the World Snooker Championships) offers Marty's faltering career a way forward.
The award winning duo of Darren Watt and Terri Electric are going their separate
ways and it doesn't take long for Marti to coax Terri into becoming his partner
on stage and in bed. Terri is everything Marty could dream of, a talented
gymnast, an able assistant and a spitting image of Princess Diana. From cabaret
bookings in Brighton, Eastbourne and Worthing the pair finally hit the big time
with a summer's booking in the Caribbean. A summer is all it is though. Even
before their sun-kissed skin has had chance to fade both Marty and Terri know
that the autumn circuit back in the UK is going to be tough. By the time they
reach the annual Magician's Convention in Blackpool on a bleak weekend in
February it is clear that their act needs freshening up. But it is amazing what
can happen when you are down on your luck at the top of the Blackpool Tower on a
wet Sunday afternoon..." The Caribbean, the Blackpool convention, Eastbourne...
it all sounds a little too close for comfort for me. Just published and
available now with a 20% discount via MagicWeek in association with Amazon.co.uk
- to order
Click Here 13.7.02
The World's Greatest Magic IV
is being repeated on Channel 5 tonight at 7.40pm - this is an edited
version that runs for just under an hour • Paul Daniels is live in Luton
tonight, see What's On • Your magic news is
always welcomed, see you next week, Duncan.
13.7.02