Number 175 - 1st
November 2003
This
year's Magic Circle Christmas Show runs for four days from Saturday
December 27th. The show stars, from Poland, Salvano - a "classic" silent
manipulator; from Las Vegas Joe Mattioli - an IBM Gold Medal winner whose
act combines cutting-edge magic with comedy and music; from closer to home
Terry Herbert, an award winning comedy magician who has performed all over
the world, illusionists Tensai, whose act combines contemporary illusions
with some of the classics of magic, and rising magic star Joe Tracini
(photo) whose sharp patter and easy charm is proving to be an irresistible
combination. Tickets are selling fast and can be ordered from the
Box Office on: 020 7388 6480, have a credit card to hand. Show times are
2.30pm and 7pm daily, Adults £18.00 Children £12.00. The show is not
suitable for children under six years of age. The Magic Circle, 12
Stephenson Way, London NW1 2HD.
www.themagiccircle.co.uk
Map.
1.11.03
"Paul
Kieve's illusions are breathtaking" writes Andy Knowles for the BBC in
his review of Scrooge which is currently on tour, starring musical
vetran Tommy Steele, and featuring a lot of magic, courtesy of magic
consultant Paul Kieve. Scrooge opened at the Birmingham Hippodrome two
weeks ago and instantly sold out with all shows receiving standing
ovations after every performance. Right now it is at the Newcastle
Theatre Royal until Saturday 8th November, then Plymouth Theatre Royal
from November 10th - 22nd, Hull New Theatre from 24th November - 6th
December, and Liverpool Empire for six weeks from December 8th. The show
then visits, at two-week intervals, the Edinburgh Playhouse, the Derngate
Theatre Northampton and other venues to be announced. Updates will be
posted on Paul Kieve's website:
www.stageillusion.com. For more of the above review
Click Here. Paul was recently awarded a Guinness World Record for his
work on Our House - the musical and has also just completed work on
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Magic is included in a
total of six scenes, and Paul makes a cameo appearance in the Three
Broomsticks Pub. The film is due for release in June, 2004.
1.11.03
"ITV
pulls 'abysmal' animal show" and replaces it with a magic show(!) tonight
at 5.30pm on ITV1 -
Click Here for the full story from the Guardian.
Phillip Schofield
presents a celebration of magic's most mystifying tricks and illusions -
from sophisticated card routines to death-defying escapes, from gentlemen
conjurors to cool street magicians together with some of magic's biggest names
including Paul Daniels, Geoffrey Durham, and Penn &
Teller who reveal moments of magic that most
impressed them. Close-up magicians will be pleased to
know that sleight of hand expert Michael Vincent (photo) will be
on the show.
1.11.03
Here's
the latest "post box" news on David Blaine:
Blaine defies doctors: The Standard.
Blaine to appear on 'Larry King Live' Digital Spy.
Blaine in hospital quickie The Sun.
1.11.03
Casino - Magic and Illusion
is being shown on BBC3 on Sunday. "Documentary series
about the people who live, work and play in the opulent Venetian Casino in
Las Vegas. This edition goes behind the city's glittering facade to meet
the people: magicians, female impersonators, drag queens and a host of
others, who create the unique atmosphere of the world's gambling
capital."
1.11.03
Brainstorm
- The Creative Card Magic of John Guastaferro is now available as a 2
DVD set from Earth's
Largest Magic Shop. "Brainstorm - The Creative Card Magic of John
Guastaferro, features some of John's finest card creations, highlighting a
unique blend of creative presentations, diabolical methods and maximum
entertainment value. Most of these effects can be done strolling, without
the need for tables or lengthy set up, and are within the reach of the
average magician. See for yourself how well this magic plays and discover
the carefully constructed methods and routining behind the effects, all
designed to captivate and floor audiences." Worldwide Format - to order
Click Here.
1.11.03
Here
are more results from the YMC J-Day, held two weeks ago, reported by
Mandy Davis: Close-up Competition (Mark Leveridge Trophy) 1st - Steve Dela
(photo) with an brilliant act which climaxed with Cups and Balls performed
to music, every move on the beat exactly. 2nd - Troy von Scheibner with a
new act which retained his excellent rendering of Cannibal Cards. 3rd -
Hugh Stacey with some very neat card work. Stage Competition (Home
Counties Magical Society Trophy) 1st - Jonathan Shotton whose act included
a floating light bulb, 2nd - Steve Dela proving what a versatile magician
he is and included a restored newspaper from which he produced a bottle of
wine. 3rd - Jonathan Ash who is now working solo after previously
competing as a double act. Congratulations to them all.
1.11.03
The Basingstoke
Festival of Magic takes place next year on Sunday, April 25th.
Featuring: The 10th Close-up Championship of Southern England
competition (for the Alan McGurk Trophy); lecturers from: recent FISM
winner Nick Einhorn (photo),
Pat Fallon and Mike Austin; plenty of magic dealers and catering
throughout the day. Tickets are £10 in advance or £12 on the door,
include directions, and are now available. Cheques, made payable to "The
Magicians of Basingstoke" should be sent, enclosing an SAE, to: Norman
Morris, 5 Budds Close, Basingstoke RG21 8XJ.
1.11.03
Jez
Rose has just finished advising on an upcoming BBC programme that
looks at the psychology behind various cons and scams. The show will air
later on in the year. Jez is also currently working with one of the top
five high street banks on psychological techniques for a new advertising
campaign which sounds very clever - details nearer transmission time. And
finally, together with Marc Paul, Jez has written a book looking at mental
relaxation and 'mind control' techniques... "how to make people think
what you want" - more details when we have them.
1.11.03
A
Trick of the Mind by Judy Wait has just been published by Oxford
University Press. "Erin has always been fascinated by magic, ever since
she was a little girl, and now she hopes that if she teaches Matt some
tricks he will notice her. But Matt dreams about Kirsty, and hopes that
learning some magic will impress her and even persuade her to ditch Billy
and go out with him. Then everything goes terribly wrong and Matt runs
away to London, to try and make his living on the streets of Covent
Garden..." This one should be on every teenage magician's Christmas list.
Available from
www.amazon.co.uk.
1.11.03
Hypnotist
and mind reader David Bolton is appearing at the
Sheffield City Hall on Monday December 15th. "More than your standard
evening of hypnosis, The David Bolton Hypnosis Show will produce gasps of
amazement as members of the audience appear to gain all manner of
astonishing powers. With David's help the volunteers are able to read
thoughts from a distance, they have x-ray vision and can predict future
events all whilst in a state of trance. There is also plenty of laughter
as the volunteers' realities are totally changed." Tickets are £8.00. Box
Office telephone 0114 2789789.
1.11.03
Monkey
Magic series 1 is about to be repeated on Five - see
TV Magic. Ali 'Monkey Boy' Cook is
interviewed in More Magazine
Click Here and you can vote for him as More's Celebrity Man of the
Year:
Click Here. Alistair is also interviewed online by BBC Teens
Click Here and can currently be seen alongside the other Monkey
Boys on The Greatest Magic Tricks in the Universe… Ever
- he's been busy promoting the show on BBC1's Breakfast and
Nickelodean.
1.11.03
David
Regal's 4 Volume DVD Set: Premise, Power, & Participation is now
available from
www.alakazam.co.uk. Full details on their website.
1.11.03
The Magic Circle Annual
Dealers' Day takes place today,
Saturday 1st November, at the Royal
National Hotel, Bedford Square, London (Map).
Car parking is available both at the hotel and in the
surrounding streets. Entrance is
free for Magic Circle members on production of a current membership card
and just £5 for non-members (£3 for under 18s). The doors open at 10am and
close at 5pm. 40+ dealers will be there.
1.11.03
Harry
Anderson offers a guide to misdirection, optical illusions and
audience manipulation on Sky One this week. See
TV Magic •
"Roy Horn Moved to UCLA
Medical Center"
The Guardian •
The full line-up for
Birmingham's The Magic Club show on Sunday November 2nd has now
been confirmed as: Noel Britten, Tony Shelley, Max Butler, Keith Bennett
and Saxon. For more information visit:
www.magicclub.co.uk.
Venue details:
Click Here •
October 28th saw Peter
Bently MMC hosting his first President's Night at the Magicians of
Basingstoke, we had excellent reports of the show that featured: Mike
Austin, Stephen Barney, James Fortune and Andy Reay •
Tonight is the final night of Philip Hitchcock's season
at the
Grand Theatre,
Blackpool, in The Billy Pearce Laughter Show. Box Office telephone
01253 290190 • Next week we'll bring you the latest
news on the upcoming Blackpool Convention •
Your magic news is always welcomed. That's it, see you
next week, Duncan.
1.11.03