Number 221 - 18th September 2004
Close-up
coin expert Mickey Silver from the USA, Flip (of 'Flip Stick' fame)
from Holland and Nikolai & Nina from Russia have all just been added to
the line up of talent on show at this year's
International
Convention in London (Friday November 26th - Sunday 28th). The whole
event will take place at the Shaw Theatre, which is part of the HQ
Novotel Euston, London. On the Saturday they'll be staging the
Close-up Competition as usual with £1,000 first prize, and every evening
the same gala show will play in the theatre allowing magicians to pick an
individual day or attend the entire convention. Also booked: Vito Lupo
(USA), David Williamson (USA), Ray Grismer (USA), Piet Forton
(Switzerland), Paul Zerdin (UK) and Noel Britten (UK). Plus magic lectures
and dealers from all around the world. For more information, and to book,
Click Here. 18.9.04
Davenport's
Christmas Wonder Show, A Magical Variety Extravaganza, presented by
Davenport's Magic Kingdom Limited, opens on Sunday 19th December at the
Auden Theatre, Gresham's School, Holt, Norfolk (Map)
and runs through to January 1st. Starring Roy Davenport, Alexander Koplin,
Mark Shortland, Michele Summers, Papillion The Flying Carpet, Paul Henri
and the Demon Dancers. Daily (except Christmas Day) with matinee and
evening shows on most days. Tickets: Adults £12.00, Children £8.00
(Concessions less £2.00). To book telephone 01692 405254 or send payment
(cheques made payable to 'Davenport's Magic Kingdom Ltd') to: L Davenport
Ltd., 7 Charing Cross Underground Arcade, Strand, London WC2N 4HZ. Or pop
into Davenports, or
Click Here for more information and to book online. 18.9.04
Geoffrey
Durham's Little Miracles can be seen live on stage tonight (Saturday
18th) at the
Palace Theatre, Redditch. His last one man extravaganza was so popular
that he is taking to the road again with his unique combination of laughs,
charm and staggering sleight of hand. This show is bigger and even more
mind boggling than the last. Watch as he levitates a member of the
audience, no less!
"Delighted and mesmerised the audience with magic that can only be
described as impossible" Guardian. For more dates see
What's On. 18.9.04
Beslan School Appeal. Magician Peter Hopkins (Mr Hocus Pocus the
Wizard) is planning to raise some money towards The British Red Cross
Beslan School Appeal by performing free shows at a number of local schools
and suggesting that the children donate £1 each towards the appeal. The
appeal will address the emergency and longer-term needs of the affected
population. It will help children and other people injured or physically
disabled. It will also fund the cost of support for the survivors and
their families at psychological and rehabilitation centres. Peter emails
"It strikes me that there are thousands of magicians from the amateur
through to the semi pro and full time pro and if most of these simply
called a couple of local schools and offered to do the same, the potential
amount of money that could be raised for this or any charity could be
huge! I am interested to hear from any magicians around the country, no
matter how new they are to the craft (charity events are a great way to
get experience) who are equally interested in being involved in charity
events. Maybe we could all end up making a difference in the future. I am
by no means an expert but if anyone would like any help or advice just
drop me a line and I’ll try and help out." To contact Peter visit:
www.wizard-entertainments.co.uk. 18.9.04
Adrian
Sullivan's Eliminator has just been released by
www.alakazam.co.uk "This is one of those killer routines that has been
kept secret for some time. You will be blown away by the cleanness and
impossibility of the effect and also by its simplicity! Whilst the
performer's back is turned, two participants each look at a card from the
deck. The selections are free choices and different every time. The deck
is then shuffled and dropped into the performer's empty pocket. As each
person merely thinks of their card the performer produces it from his
pocket! All without a single move!!" For much more information visit:
www.alakazam.co.uk. 18.9.04
The
Farm, featuring Paul Daniels and Debbie McGee, starts on Sunday
September 26th, nightly on Five (10pm - 11pm). From Five: "It's bye bye to
bling bling as celebrities turn their backs on their city lives,
convenience foods and luxury living, to face the harsh realities of life
on a real working farm. As the celebrity farmhands tackle their daily
chores, they'll find there's no room on the Farm for slackers or
softies..." And "Pig Brother gets evicted"
Click Here. 18.9.04
Under
her spell. "I bet Susanna Clarke is hoping for a long, cold winter
this year. For it has taken her 10 years to write a nourishing,
19th-century-style novel that will warm readers through any number of dark
and stormy nights. Forget media speculation about the huge advance and the
Booker Prize long-listing: Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell is not a book for
cocktail gossip around a hip, urban table. It is a book for a favourite
armchair, for readers in patched cardigans, with log fires and buttered
muffins. Should your present circumstances offer none of these comforts,
do not be deterred. You need only dip into this big, bubbling cauldron of
a book to feel that Clarke has conjured them all for you. She opens by
lifting the lid on a meeting of the Society of York Magicians in 1806.
These men are no low, street sorcerers, nor gipsies with fortunes to tell
behind dirty curtains. They are 'gentleman-magicians', 'which means to
say,' explains our amiable narrator, 'not one of these magicians had ever
cast the smallest spell, nor by magic caused one leaf to tremble on a
tree, made one mote of dust to alter its course or changed a single hair
on anyone's head.' Instead, these ineffectual scholars meet every third
Wednesday of each month to read aloud dull and dusty papers on the history
of English magic, and then pick petty quarrels with each other. But into
this particular meeting comes John Segundus, a young magician with a most
ungentlemanly question: why, despite its noble past, is magic no longer
practised in England?" Writes Helen Brown in the
Telegraph. To order from Amazon.co.uk
Click Here. 18.9.04
Magic
at The Grill Room, The Cafe Royal, London. The line up for the first
in this new monthly evening of magic in one of London's most lavish
restaurants has just been announced. Luke Jermay headlines with close-up
magic from Daniel Young, James Laver and James Cheung. The season opens on
Sunday 26th September 2004. For tickets
Click Here. And there's a Halloween Special on Sunday 31st October
2004, for tickets
Click Here or call the 24 hour box office hotline on 08700 600 100. Or
visit
www.falseimpressions.com for more information. 18.9.04
Parade
Of the Presidents. The Order of the Magi welcomed the International
President of The International Brotherhood of Magicians Tony Wilson and
his wife Mary to their Manchester headquarters recently. The event was
also attended by many dignitaries from the British Ring. Tony presented
some magic from New Zealand before being entertained himself by Magi
members Frederic Plouzeau, Chris Stevenson, Brian Glover and Adrian
Sullivan. There was also a guest appearance from Paul Stone. This very
successful social evening was arranged by Secretary John 'Sly' Smith and
after an excellent buffet and convivial chat, a vote of thanks on behalf
of the visitors was made by Tom Owen. The picture shows International
President Tony Wilson, President of The British Ring Cynthia Neptune, and
Magi President Mike Sharples. Keep up to date with The Order of the Magi:
www.orderofthemagi.co.uk. Reported by Geoffrey Newton. 18.9.04
Chester Guild of Magicians News - Mersey Dee Cup. Chester Guild of Magicians hosted the Mersey Dee Competition last Monday between the Mahatma Magic Circle from Liverpool, North Wales Magic Circle, Rhyl and the Chester Guild of Magicians. Nine performers, three from each society, performed for a maximum of 12 minutes each. The performers where: Chester: Allan Russell, Andrew Nichols, Graham Leech. North Wales: Mark Thoruld, Russel Roberts and David Baker. Mahatma: Michael Diamond, Bob Gurney and Neil Collett. Guest magical judges where: Richie Smith, Cliff Cowling and Ron Pilkington together with two lay judges and the overall winners were and Paul Turner. The competition was won by the Mahatma Magic Circle, Liverpool. Reported by David Brandwood. 18.9.04
Magic Clubs, a Yahoo Group, was founded by David Lang back in March. The concept being that magic club committee members can exchange information about events, subscriptions, entry requirements, rules, venues, lectures or anything else related to running a local magic club. So, if you're a magic club committee member, you are invited to join by sending a blank email to magicclubs-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. 18.9.04
The Magicians of Basingstoke will be holding their annual dinner and cabaret on November 12th at the Masonic Hall, Victoria Street, Basingstoke, starting at 7.15pm. Pat Fallon and Tanya have been booked for the cabaret. Tickets are £16 each. For more information contact Mr. B. Sarney brekksmagic@yahoo.co.uk or 0118 9311973. 18.9.04
Harry Robson lectures at the Bolton Magician's Club on Wednesday 22nd September. Harry presents "Close-up and Cabaret in the Trenches" at the Cotton Tree, Prince Street, Bolton at 8.30pm. Visiting magicians from other societies are most welcome (£3 charge). For more information visit www.bolton-magic.co.uk or telephone Jim Hodgkiss on 01204 522651. 18.9.04
Happy Birthday to
David
Copperfield who was 48 on Thursday • "David Copperfield Says He's No
Island Trickster,"
Click Here • "Roy Horn Says Tiger Bite Was Bid to Help Him"
Click Here • "Paul learns some new magic,"
Click Here • Monkey Magic Series 2 suddenly disappeared after only
three programmes had gone out... the series may be
rescheduled for a screening later on in the year, or next year, according
to Five • That's it for this week. Your UK
magic news and reviews always welcomed. See you next week, Duncan. 18.9.04