Number 174 -
25th October 2003
"Blair
taken to hospital after heart scare" so what... Blaine's out of his
box, now that is worth a picture - can nothing keep this man out of the
headlines? Even
The Independent (one of the UK's better papers overseas readers should
note), couldn't resist the draw of Blaine's box. The closing moments made
for compulsive viewing. The box was lowered and Blaine stumbled out. He
was clearly shaken - 44 days of mindless tedium suddenly coming to an end
in front of thousands on live television. He broke down in tears
momentarily and managed a few words, "I learned how important it is to
have a sense of humour and to laugh at everything because nothing makes
any sense," together with a somewhat Jacksonesque "I love you all." He was
then carried off on a stretcher and taken to a waiting ambulance. Channel
4's version of the show (shown on Monday night) included some extra
footage showing him settling into hospital, and having a few laughs. I've
always highly rated Blaine. His original "street magic" show was exactly
what was needed at that time, especially in the UK, but Monday's show,
which ran for nearly one hour, was poor. The live material worked very
well but the pre recorded inserts were banal. Not that any of that really
matters though - the world-wide publicity that this stunt generated was
incredible. Many thanks to cartoonist Andy Cartledge for his take on it
all:
Click Here.
(Visit Andy's site:
www.blist.co.uk). "Blaine is now exercising and back on solids,
starting with a handful of crisps" reports The Independent:
Click Here.
25.10.03
Men
in Coats - A Little Less Conversation... A Little More Action is
currently on tour across the UK. Since their total sell-out run at the
Edinburgh Festival they've appeared on Children In Need and The
Royal Variety Show 2002. They were also regular special guests on the
BBC's The Live Floor Show. Earlier this year Men in Coats
were invited by Prince Charles to perform especially for The Queen and
members of the Royal Family at a private party at Clarence House to
celebrate the 50th Anniversary of The Coronation. For tour dates see
What's On - highly recommended. Very
funny, original and magical! "Watching this show was the happiest hour I spent
in Edinburgh" The Spectator, August 2002.
25.10.03
...or
the gold fish gets it. The brilliant Noel Britten heads the line up at
The Magic Club, Birmingham, on Sunday, November 2nd at The Wharf Bar, The
Quality Hotel, Walsall. Tickets: £5.00 in advance or £6.00 on the door
(NUS discount on production of NUS Card). To book call Keith Bennett on
0121 628 9697. The show starts at 8.30pm and doors open at 7.30pm. With
Saxon Tylney, Keith's Trick, and more acts to be announced. Venue details:
Click Here.
No one knows more about working with gold fish than this man.
25.10.03
John
Palfreyman, after 70 years in magic, had a "celebration and retirement
from magic" party on Thursday night and was joined by John Fisher and
members of The Magic Circle and the Surrey Society of Magicians. During
his career he was associated with the David Nixon and Tommy Cooper shows
amongst others. (Photo by
www.commercialphotography-uk.com)
25.10.03
TrickShop.com
are currently offering Mike Maxwell's Learn to Levitate Video in
PAL VHS together with a supply of IT or Rob Stiff's Learn Magic
Video in NTSC VHS on all orders of $50 or more FREE! The offer extends
to both shipped goods and downloaded e-books (or a combination) and all
orders within any given 24 hour period will qualify. Two of TrickShop's
best selling books,
Mastering
Hypnosis and
Tradecraft (left), now have full colour covers included in both the US
(8½" x 11") and UK/European A4 format versions, when down loaded as PDF
e-books, or ordered online. Air mail shipping to the UK is still just $8.95
per order. Visit: www.trickshop.com for more information.
25.10.03
Marc
Paul's long awaited brand new DVD Mind 2 Mind can now be
pre-ordered exclusively from
www.magictricks.co.uk. MagicWeek hopes to bring you the first review
next week but until then here's a look at what's in store: "Mind 2 Mind is
an amazing collection of direct mind reading effects including Marc's
famous book test as seen on the Parkinson TV show. The DVD has fourteen
effects, performed and explained, bonus effects which include 'macro'
effects that play to an entire audience, a way to read minds over the
telephone and even an interactive trick to show your friends. Effects
include: A coin in the hand where a spectator is able to correctly guess
in which hand you are hiding a coin, a giant card mind-reading effect and
an amazing direct mind reading trick where you are able to divine a shape,
a colour, a letter and a number that four spectators are thinking of. The
DVD has been digitally produced from start to finish - ensuring it is of the
highest possible quality." To pre-order and guarantee your personal copy
of what promises to be an excellent disc visit:
www.magictricks.co.uk.
25.10.03
Building
Blocks by Luke Jermay is due out in just a few weeks. By blending
psychological techniques with some classic conjuring methodology Luke
presents cutting-edge mentalism and 'magick' effects that will have your
audiences believing that you can do anything! "Luke is one of those rare
individuals who brings a unique touch of originality to everything he
does. Great thinking and great routines! With fresh presentations like
these, I look forward to the future of our craft." Steve Banachek. The
first 150 copies will be individually numbered and signed. Published by
Alakazam. To pre-order or just to find out more visit:
www.alakazam.co.uk today.
25.10.03
Klub
Magic is back on Monday November 3rd at the Komedia Theatre in
Brighton. Host and magician Mark Worgan has put together another top line
up this month featuring Ian Keable (photo), Richard McDougall, Russell
Levinson and Pete McCahon. Tickets are available online via the Komedia
Box Office:
www.komedia.co.uk. Visit
www.klubmagic.co.uk
to see who's on over the coming months. Klub Magic is going so well that
the current run (first Monday in the Month) has been extended until May
2004.
25.10.03
Pete
Firman was a guest on MTV Europe's flagship show TRL last week,
talking about Monkey Magic and David Blaine while performing some of his
own magic for the studio audience (to great effect). Last week he was also a
guest on the BBC's Liquid News. Pete's top ten magic tricks can
currently be seen in this month's issue of THE FACE magazine.
www.petefirman.co.uk.
25.10.03
Mark
Worgan lectures at the Bolton Magical Society at 8.30pm on Wednesday,
November 5th at the Cotton Tree, Prince Street, Bolton. Visiting magicians
are welcome (there will be an entrance fee of £3). Further information
from:
www.bolton-magic.co.uk or telephone Jim Hodgkiss 01204 522651. Mark
will be covering close-up and comedy cabaret with extracts from his act
that will include some of his own routines and tricks. Full lecture notes
will be available on the night, or via:
mark.worgan@btinternet.com.
25.10.03
Paul
Daniels has teamed up with The 2004 World Magic Seminar in Las
Vegas to present a new masterclass on the business of magic. This will
take place on January 11th. The day will feature all-new content covering
performance skills, and how to improve on them, together with what's
involved business wise in developing a career in magic. The 2003
masterclass was very popular, as the testimonials on the official website
confirm. Good news for anyone who missed last year's UK dates: Paul is
currently looking at the possibility of presenting more UK masterclasses
in the Spring of 2004. For more details visit
www.pdmasterclass.com.
25.10.03
XMP
illusions headed by performer Rob McKenna can be seen on two upcoming
television programmes over Halloween. First, live, on UK Living's Loose
Lips on Wednesday 29th at 5.10pm and the then on the BBC's Blue
Peter for their Halloween Special on the 31st. Rob will be performing
illusions on both shows. "It's high time we gave back magic its classics -
performed in the way they were originally intended. As a life long
enthusiast, that's exactly what I am setting out to achieve," said Rob.
25.10.03
Many
congratulations to Jonathan Shotton who won the Young Magicians
Club Junior Day Stage Competition last Sunday. We'll bring you the
close-up results next week •
For a message from Siegfried
Click Here. "Siegfried vows he and Roy will return":
CNN •
John Palfreyman has a
large book list (far too long for the free ads!) that he'd like to send
out to magicians and collectors. Please email John at
j.palfreyman@btopenworld.com
for details •
The six-part Psychic
Secrets Revealed series ended on Friday and Solomon: The Escape
Artist was shown last Sunday. I hope to bring you reviews of both in a
week or two •
That's it for this week. We had a problem with our news
submission form a few days ago for a couple of days so if you sent in some
news and it didn't appear please resend • Your
news is always welcomed. See you next week, Duncan.
25.10.03