Number 168 - 13th September 2003
As
week one drew to a close David Blaine must have been asking himself
just what had he let himself in for this time... eggs, golf balls, lasers,
bottles, fish, chips and drums beating at four in morning were all neatly
rounded off on Friday when a remote controlled helicopter, complete with a
freshly prepared burger, was sent up to hover outside his box providing
the ultimate temptation. The British can be very cynical about such
'staged' events and it seems that both David Blaine and the production
team hadn't foreseen the problems that a stunt like this could present.
Night clubbers at two in the morning are best avoided, and Blaine's box is
very much a sitting target. In reality 99% of the visitors just quietly go
along and have a look but in previous stunts there was always more of an
"I couldn't do that" factor... who could imagine themselves being buried
alive, standing in the centre of a block of ice for three days or being
perched precariously on top of a gigantic column for 36 hours? But sitting
in a box? Well, yes, most people can imagine themselves sitting in a box!
So although in real terms this is his hardest feat to date it just doesn't
look that way and the media are still focusing on the problems in their
coverage because reporting that "he's still in his box" isn't much of a
story - yet. Perhaps as the days roll on the tide will turn. I hope so as
Blaine's 'Street Magic' shows have done so much to revitalise and
stimulate the public's perception of magic.
In the photo (above) final checks are being made by the technical team on Day 1 as the water pipe is fed into the casket. To see a larger version and the crowds that lined up along Tower Bridge on the opening night Click Here. We'll bring you some more exclusive photos in a couple of weeks. To read what the Evening Standard had to say by Day 4 Click Here. And to read what the BBC had to say by Day 7 Click Here. 13.9.03
Congratulations
to Alan Shaxon, the new President of The Magic Circle. Alan
took over from Michael Bailey whose successful five years in office ended
on September 8th. Exciting times are ahead for the world's most famous
magic society as it gears up to celebrate its centenary with four days of
magic in July 2005.
13.9.03
Alistair
Cook returns to Five in a one hour special entitled Psychic! on
Sunday 14th at 8pm investigating the world of the paranormal. Then from
Friday, September 19th, he hosts a new six-part series, Secrets of the
Psychics: Revealed, at 8.30pm each week. Dr Richard Wiseman and Derren
Brown will appear in the series which was devised by Andrew O'Connor of
Objective Productions. Programme consultants are David Britland and Andy
Nyman. Executive producer: Andrew O'Connor. Series producer: Anthony Owen.
See TV Magic for details.
13.9.03
Geoffrey
Durham is live on stage tonight (Saturday 13th) at the
Greenwich
Theatre, London. Telephone 020 8858 7755. From stunning
close-up magic to the levitation of a member of the audience - a rare
London date not to be missed!
13.9.03
Hypnotist
Andrew Newton will be holding his first ever two day Hypnotic
Masterclass in Manchester at the end of November. Readers are invited to
email
newtonhypnotictraining@hotmail.com for a full information pack.
Readers who register an interest and mention 'MagicWeek' will also receive
a £200 discount. The weekend will be filmed, for later release, and
registrations are limited to just 78.
www.hypnoman.com.
13.9.03
The
name Richard Robinson will be known to many MagicWeek readers as the
man behind the excellent
www.allmagic.com series of websites but on this newly produced DVD
you'll see him in performance mode presenting The Magic Stick, a
special wand that floats, levitates and sometimes misbehaves, whilst actually
remaining under the magician's control at all times. Especially suitable
for silent magicians the wand employs a number of trusted principles and can be presented as a complete routine
in itself, or simply
used for theatrical effect during any magic sequence. The DVD contains a
performance video, PDF instructions on how to make the wand, clear 'walk
through' performance video instructions, technical notes, MP3 files and
more. Made with Richard's usual attention to detail it gets a solid
recommendation. Available from
www.elmagicshop.com.
13.9.03
The
Magicians of Basingstoke are holding their annual Dinner on Friday
28th November in Down Grange, Basingstoke, with cabaret from Peter
McCahon. Contact Tony Russell
pennywisemagic@btinternet.com for more information. Tickets are £16
each.
13.9.03
The
Guild of Magicians Nottingham present their Annual Magic Gala Show
on Sunday 14th September at the Bonington Theatre, Arnold, Nottingham. The
show is aimed at the public but magicians are more than welcome. Acts
include Bunny Neill, Clive Moore, Neil Haywood (photo), Brian Sefton and
Kevin Burke. Tickets are available from the box office on 0115 9560733 at
£5.00 each. The show starts at 7.30pm. The Society are also holding a
Table Top Magic Sale on October 16th. For more information about any
of the above events contact Freddie Wilkinson (President) on 0115 9614551
or Email
freddie@magichat.fsnet.co.uk.
13.9.03
Mel
Harvey, pictured here with Steve Dacri, has just returned from a week
at the Orleans Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas (mentioned last week) where he was delighted to
have been the first
British magician to have performed at the Hotel, in Steve's show
Extreme Close-up Magic. The show has now had its run
extended. Here's a great website for anyone planning a trip:
www.tripadvisor.com.
13.9.03
Eugene
Mattias is staging The Big Band & Variety Show at the Swan Theatre in
High Wycombe on Sunday September 21st. Featuring escapologist Rodan
who will attempt to escape from a water filled 45 gallon drum and
Rowland Valentine who will be performing close-up magic in the foyer.
Together with Brian Poole of the Tremeloes, comedian George Saunders,
Marilyn Ford, The Ice Gems Cheer Leaders and James Gough's Big Band.
Tickets are £15 - £20 and all profits are going to charity.
www.wycombeswan.co.uk.
13.9.03
Wayne
Dobson lectures at the Bexleyheath Society of Magicians on September
17th. For directions and further information call Mark Styles on 01689
818984.
13.9.03
Six
Degrees of Penetration at 11pm on Wednesday 24th September on Sky One
asks "How do you get from football star Tony Adams to magician David
Copperfield in six sexual liaisons? Six Degrees reveals all -
including the identity of the pivotal Master Swordsman."
TV Magic.
13.9.03
Manon
von Gerkan, David Blaine's girlfriend, came to the rescue in the early
hours of Wednesday morning when yet another egg tried to make its way over
to David Blaine's box. Security guards escorted the offending man away to
the nearby car park (where the production offices are located) and Manon
asked if she could give him a taste of his own medicine. "It's been so
frustrating seeing David have all these things thrown at him, it was a
great moment to finally fire one back." She said • Merlins August Preview, packed full of magic, is still available
and can be obtained for a 35p stamp from: Merlins, 15 The Springs,
Wakefield, West Yorkshire WF1 1QE • A car dealer emailed details of a
number plate that they'd like to sell: "The registration number is MA51CAL
when mounted on a vehicle it appears as MAGICAL or you could change the
spacing and have it appear as MAGIC AL if your name happened to be AL! We
are looking for offers above £7000." If number plates are up your street
please email MagicWeek for contact details • Your UK magic news is always
welcomed, see you next week, Duncan.
13.9.03