Number 222 - 25th September 2004

 

Wayne Dobson chose The British Ring's 68th Convention (currently on in Eastbourne, ends Sunday afternoon) to release the first of his new three volume multi-region DVD set "Dobson's Choice - TV Stuff." Volume 1 features eight actual TV performances taken from the hit TV series Wayne Dobson - A Kind of Magic, interspersed with newly recorded footage of Wayne in which he offers an insight into the make up and presentation of each routine. Volume 1 also includes bonus footage: Silhouettes and the now classic "Frank and Harry" Royal Variety Show clip. What really stands out though is the quality of each and every routine and Wayne's performance and timing. Highly recommended. Priced £17.99 each plus £1.00 p&p. Email dtrik@waynedobson.co.uk for ordering information or head off to Eastbourne to pick up a copy for yourself. Convention details Click Here. 25.9.04

 

Paul Daniels and Debbie McGee step into the unknown (so to speak) down on The Farm on Sunday evening at 10pm on Five. Paul Daniels said "I don't normally like reality style shows because the contestants rarely have anything to do, and I would find that immensely boring. When they approached me about The Farm I talked at length with Debbie about it, and we decided that it would be an interesting opportunity, so we have been mentally preparing for what the producers might throw at us! Interestingly, the press have said all sorts of things about the show, but the truth is they don't know anything about it other than the obvious. We have not been allowed to say anything about it until a few days ago." Best of luck to them both. 25.9.04

 

Comedy illusion act TrickStars have been added to the Saturday night gala show bill at Seaside Sorcery 13th-14th November 2004. www.blackpoolmagic.com. TrickStars are currently enjoying a seven month summer season appearing in the production show Viva Las Vegas touring east coast venues for Haven and British Holidays. The act is highly visual featuring comedy and illusion in a fast moving choreographed presentation. www.trickstars.co.uk. 25.9.04

 

Raising Houdini - Illusionists make an old trick new hat by Anna Maria Basquez. "California illusionists Charlotte and Jonathan Pendragon have mastered the famed magician's 'Metamorphosis' trick and taken it to another level. This summer, they landed in the Guinness Book of World Records 2005 50th Anniversary edition book for being the fastest performers in the history of magic to perform it." To read the full story in the online Coloradoan Click Here. The Pendragons will be in the UK next Summer for The Magic Circle's Centenary Celebration Convention. 25.9.04

 

Richard McDougall and Steve Faulkner (photo) have just completed a week of performances in Coimbra, Portugal as part of the seventh Encontros Magicos Festival. Their street acts were greeted with the largest crowds ever and, as part of the Festival's philosophy of taking magic into new places, they performed in other venues including a prison and drugs rehabilitation centre. Such was the response that both artists received that they have already been booked for the Zamora Festival (Spain) in 2005. Also appearing in the Festival were The Great Tomsoni and Co, Stan Allen, Mike Caveney, Tina Lennert, Armando, Jan and Guus, Juan Mayoral and Marcel & Peggy. 25.9.04

 

Michael Pearse lectures at The Mystic Ring in Bedfordshire at 7.45pm on Thursday 7th of October. Anyone who has seen Michael Pearse perform will know what a highly entertaining lecture this is likely to be. His lecture will cover what he is best at... comedy, magic and juggling. Visiting magicians £4.00. For further details contact themysticring@hotmail.com. The Mystic Ring, Dunstable Conservative Club, High Street North, Dunstable, Bedfordshire. 25.9.04

 

Tony Griffith will be presenting his Creative Magic lecture for the Chester Guild of Magicians on Monday 11th October. This is the lecture that Tony has presented worldwide. "Emphasis is upon subtlety, routining and entertainment rather than pure sleight of hand. Areas covered will be trade shows, after dinner speaking, Close-up Magic and other areas of the corporate field. There will be items for all tastes." Details from David Brandwood, telephone: 01928 718496. 25.9.04

 

Clive Barker's horror flick Lord of Illusions is being repeated at 12 midnight on Saturday 25th on FX. The movie, although ultimately not very good, features a number of 'illusion' sequences that are interesting from the point of view of seeing how a horror writer and film director interpret 'magic and illusion.' "During a routine case in LA, NY private investigator Harry D'Amour (Scott Bakula) stumbles over members of a fanatic cult, who are waiting for the resurrection of their leader Nix (Daniel von Bargen). 13 years ago Nix was calmed down by his best trainee Swann (Kevin J O'Connor). In the meantime, Swann has advanced to become a popular illusionist like David Copperfield and is married to the charming Dorothea (Golden Eye Bond girl Famke Janssen), who hires D'Amour to protect Swann against the evil cult members. Soon after, Swann is killed by one of his own tricks." 25.9.04

 

Richard Wiseman is in the new ad for Volvo, performing an interesting (and very clever) version of Out of This World. The ad is for TV and film and can be seen at www.volvocars.co.uk (click on the main photo and then 'interview 4' parts 1 and 2). 25.9.04

 

"Illusionist Derren Brown faked a séance. Speaking with a long-departed loved one may be the result of fear or suggestion rather than genuine spirit contact, research suggests. UK psychologist Professor Richard Wiseman looked at controlled 'séance' experiments." Click Here to read the full story from the BBC. Derren Brown, video clips from Channel 4, Click Here. 25.9.04

 

TV magic man predicts the news. "These days a good magician has got to offer more than just pulling a rabbit out of a top hat and the occasional card trick. But while magic men David Blaine and Derren Brown raise the stakes with outrageous and often death defying stunts, Elstree magician Nicholas Einhorn is capturing the public's attention with his own brand of trickery. On Monday, the award-winning magician of 10 years visited the offices of the Borehamwood and Elstree Times and amazed us with a selection of his best magic tricks." To read the full story by Louise Compton in This is Hertfordshire Click Here. www.einhorn.co.uk. 25.9.04

 

Luke Jermay lectures for International Magic at the the Cittie of Yorke Pub, 22 High Holborn, London WC1. (See Map) on Saturday 2nd October. Starts at 4.30pm; tickets are £10.00 from the shop. www.internationalmagic.com. 25.9.04

 

"Magician Matt wows with mind-reading act. A young Shropshire magician is through to the final of a national magic competition after wowing judges in London on Saturday with his amazing mind-reading act. Matt Beech, from Cressage, near Shrewsbury, beat off competition from 14 other competitors to become one of just six to go on to the final of the Young Magic Circle Junior Day Stage competition. If he wins on October 24, Matt will appear on the BBC television programme Exchange before jetting off to America to perform his act in front of some of the country's top magicians." Read the full story in the Shropshire Star Click Here. 25.9.04

 

The Creative Magician's Handbook: A Guide to Tricks, Illusions and Performance by Marvin Kaye is currently available from Amazon.co.uk. An excellent book, 320 pages, £10.00, what a bargain! Click Here to order • Happy Birthday to www.thelittlemagicshop.co.uk - one year old this week • I zipped down to Eastbourne on Friday and managed to see the Stage Competition which was of a higher standard than in previous years I thought. For me Safire's stunning clear sub trunk and the manipulation act of Japan's Kohei Kobayashi stood out. Thanks to everyone who's sent in news recently, it's always welcomed. That's it for this week, see you next week, Duncan. 25.9.04

 

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