Number 280 - 5th November 2005
Jonathan
Goodwin, Extreme Escapologist, appears on Richard & Judy, at
5pm on Monday November 7th (Channel 4) performing one of his most
dangerous escapes ever - live, to promote his new show The 7 Stupidest
Things to Escape From which goes out later that evening on E4 and
launches Mental Magic Week. The show includes escape stunts ranging
from the sublime to the ridiculous. See
TV Magic for times. 5.11.05
Session
Convention - update. More names have just been added to the Session
Convention line up. Tim Shoesmith, the current British Ring IBM
close-up champion, sleight-of-hand magician James Brown, and card man Jack
Parker will now join Lee Asher, Kostya Kimlat, Tyler Wilson and Andi
Gladwin (photo). Register before November 15th for just £35.00. The
registration includes a full day of lectures and shows, visits to the
dealers and food at midday and early evening. The venue looks perfect, and
registrations have come in from home and abroad. Book early for that
discount and to be sure of your place! Visit
www.sessionconvention.com. 5.11.05
Ducktastic
waddles its way out of the West End... Ducktastic, directed by Kenneth
Branagh, closes on November 19th after a very short flight. Just two weeks
on from its West End opening, the show, originally scheduled to run to
15th July 2006, has announced that it will close on November 19th. Tickets
that would normally cost up to £42.50 each are now available for just
£10.00. Siegfried and Roy's Las Vegas show, that it attempted to lampoon,
ran for 30 years, was seen by millions, and in its last years grossed $45
million per year. Quack quack. "This duck is a turkey"
Click
Here and "It starts out as a kind of send-up of Siegfried and Roy's
Las Vegas magic show, with a real life duck standing in for the famous
tigers, but it quickly loses sight of its target and degenerates into a
loosely connected series of sight gags and double entendres."
Click Here. 5.11.05
Pod
Magic! MagicTricks.co.uk have just launched a podcast version of their
newsletter. Visit
www.magictricks.co.uk to listen and to find out what's new. 5.11.05
Peter Wardell lectures on commercial close-up
at the DownTown Magic Club on Monday November 14th. Members of other magic
clubs are welcome. Venue: The DownTown Magic Club, DownTown Diner, Park
Street, Ashford, Kent. Contact: Miki Travis 01233 620120
www.downtownmagicclub.co.uk.
Real
World Magic with Dave Jones is the latest DVD release from
rsvpmagic.com. This production features some of the routines that Dave
wowed everyone with at the last FFFF Convention in the States. "All of the magic can be performed as either close-up
or stand-up, including a stunning Cabaret Linking Finger Rings sequence
and Dave's fantastic card routine called 'Notes' - an effect that everyone
is already talking about!" rsvpmagic.com have also just received new
stock of their best-selling DVD Corporate Close-up with Martin Sanderson.
Two new products to watch out for in the coming weeks are an amazing
super-power memory/mind-reading effect and a double DVD box-set (details
soon!). Visit
www.rsvpmagic.com. 5.11.05
Alakazam.co.uk
are releasing their new Stealth Assassin Wallet in December. "This is
truly the utility device for the mentalist. Carry the Assassin with you
and you will have a mentalism act in your pocket! Those in the know have
been waiting for the release of the Assassin since its creation and for
the lucky few that wait is almost over." Visit
www.alakazam.co.uk
for details. 5.11.05
Dave's
done it again! Magic man Dave Allen won the Gil Leaney Shield, for the
best stage act, at the Watford Association of Magicians on Tuesday
November 1st. His original comedy magic act features many mad inventions
including a talking duck and an exploding cannon! Second place went to
Darren King and third to Ian Manly. This award comes hot on the heels of
Dave's British Ring Comedy Award last month. 5.11.05
Alex
Lodge appears in Dick Whittington at The Library Theatre, St
George's Square, Luton, Bedfordshire LU1 2NG (Map)
this Christmas in the role of Simple Simon (under the name of Alex
Richards). From Wednesday 14th December to 3rd January. Alex will be
performing magic and illusion, and magicians are welcome. Box office 01582
547474. 5.11.05
The
Order of the Magi is once again hosting the North West Dealers' Day,
from 10am - 4pm on November 12th. Venue: The Irish World Heritage Centre,
Queens Road, Cheetham Hill, Manchester M8 8UF (Map).
Featuring: Castle Magical Services, Merlins, Practical Magic, David
Charles, Cliff Lount, Mr E Enterprises, David Baxter, Peter Diamond,
Stephen Tucker, Keith Bennett, Balloons World Wide, with a lunchtime
lecture from Trevor Lewis (photo) including children's magic, close-up and
cabaret items. A late afternoon performance by Steve Dela, The Magic
Circle Young Magician of the Year 2005 will complete the event. There is
ample parking, lunches will be available for under £3 and a brand new
major retail park is situated next door. This is the third year The Magi
has arranged the event and admission is just £5.00 (Plus there a chance to
win a £50 dealer voucher in the £1 raffle)
www.orderofthemagi.org.uk. 5.11.05
Rodney
James Piper and Wayne Goodman treated all the magicians who have
worked for them at Sylvester Oscar Scary's House of Illusion
throughout the summer to an end of season treat. They were taken on an all
expenses trip to Frankfurt to see David Copperfield's A Night of
Intimate Illusion. The surprise trip was made even better when they
were invited backstage to meet David after the show. In the photo: Peter
Carroll, Matt Coleman, David Copperfield, Christian Fletcher, Wayne
Goodman and Rodney James Piper. House of Illusion will be holding
auditions in the New Year for the summer season 2006.
www.everythingents.com. 5.11.05
"Death
Comes for the Death Defier. For all intents and purposes, Harry
Houdini had been countless times before where he was 79 years ago today,
on October 31, 1926: staring down the jaws of death. The magician had been
sealed in a coffin and buried under a ton of earth often enough that it
felt routine. The difference was that Houdini had always before risen from
the grave at the last minute..." To read the full article by Christine
Gibson in American Heritage.com
Click Here. 5.11.05
Jayne
Corrigan and Gary Jones amazed a star studded audience with their
close-up magic at the recent "Luncheon with Wendy Richard MBE" hosted by
The Heritage Foundation, at London's Grosvenor Hotel. Guests included
the cast from Eastenders, along with stars from Are You Being Served,
London's Burning, The Benny Hill Show and many others. The
event was compeered by the President of The Heritage Foundation, Rick
Wakeman.
www.magicbyjayne.co.uk
garyjones@themagiccircle.co.uk. 5.11.05
Paul
Gordon's recent five hour lecture at Magical Mayhem is reviewed this
week (see Reviews). Last week Paul was
invited to Berlin to both perform and lecture, and take part in a
'question and answer' session alongside Tommy Wonder, Dr. Stephen Taut,
Wittus Witt and Alexander DeCova. The Berlin Symposium was organised by
Alexander DeCova and Julien Daniel and Paul was thrilled to have received
an ovation for his lecture.
www.paulgordon.net. 5.11.05
Close-up
magician Jack Stephens has been commissioned to write up a report on
the performance he gave Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, at a private
lunch party recently. Times journalist Ian Harrison is producing a book
containing thirty accounts by people who have met the Queen in unusual
circumstances. The Queen celebrates her 80th birthday next year.
www.jackstephens.co.uk. 5.11.05
Robert
Fox and Michael Gee are seen here on location filming for Men and
Motors. Like true professionals they tell us they avoided all distractions
and concentrated on their magic!
www.robertfox.net
www.michaelgeemagic.com. 5.11.05
Professional Magic Dealers Association. A Professional Magic Dealers Association (PMDA) has been formed with a steering committee as follows: Chairman - Derek Lever, Secretary - Mike Shepherd, Treasurer - Phil Peters, Public Relations Officer - Alec Powell, Committee Members - Dave Charles and Mark Lee. The basic qualifications for membership are: Members must have traded for a minimum of 3 years as a Magical Dealer. Members must have a publicised personal name and address (as opposed to just a mobile phone number and email address). Members main source of income must be from magic. Members must have some original and exclusive items which they sell. Membership of the group will be by invitation only. The objectives of the organisation are: To obtain better conditions for members at Conventions. To exchange information (including bad debtors and fraudsters). To arbitrate in disputes between customers and dealers and to resolve 'rights' issues. And finally, to promote confidence in dealing with members of the Association. Discussions are taking place regarding the mounting a PMDA Day of Magic some time next year. Enquiries to the Secretary, Mike Shepherd: michaelshepherd@castlemagicalservices.co.uk. 5.11.05
MagicWeek
recommends Phantoms of the Card Table by David Britland and Gazzo,
currently with 30% off. To order from Amazon.co.uk
Click Here • Doug Segal reviews Peter Arcane's recent lecture at the
Medway Magical Society, Click Here • "He's the Mana"
Click Here • "£1.7m injury payout for circus magician"
Click Here • "He's got mucho magic"
Click Here • "Magic festival from November 2"
Click Here • "Magician entertains Isaac's lineups"
Click Here • Many congratulations to Laura and Darryl Rose on the
birth of baby Liliana Fay Rose on October 31st! • That's it for the week,
your UK magic news is always welcomed, see you next week, Duncan. 5.11.05