Number 332 - 4th November 2006
Romany
- Diva of Magic is The Magic Circle Stage Magician of the Year
2006/7. Romany captivated a packed Magic Circle theatre audience
last Sunday from the moment she set foot on stage with an original and
theatrical performance that mixed the glamour of a classic Folies Bergere
showgirl with a dry and brilliantly timed wit. Her two volunteers from the
audience became an integral part of the act when she fell head over heels
for one of them (literally), as the magic unfolded. Meanwhile judges
Jeremy Beadle, actor Melvyn Hayes and television producer John Kay Cooper
fell under Romany's spell, voting her into a well deserved first place.
Romany has performed in cabaret all over the world and her showmanship
shone through in a tough competition that featured eight full-time
professionals. Keith Fields was on form combining visual gags, verbal gags
and some great magic (including the production of a goldfish bowl from a
wallet!) and was awarded second place and James Freedman presented his
skillful and cleverly crafted pickpocketing act, that also featured magic, to be
placed third (DT).
www.themagiccircle.co.uk
www.romanymagic.com.
4.11.06
Many
congratulations to Megan Knowles-Bacon winner of J-Day Young Magicians
Club stage competition on October 22nd (a part of The Magic Circle youth
initiative programme). Megan's love of magic and dance proved a winning
combination. Joshua Bartley was placed second, and David Loosely third. In
the Close-up competition Patrick Milne was placed first, Daniel Brookes
second and Louis Coakley third. (Photo by Mandy Davis). Visit
www.youngmagiciansclub.co.uk for membership details.
4.11.06
The
Commercial Close Up Forum is just a week away and there are still some
places left for late registrants. Mark Leveridge, Nicholas Einhorn and
Martin Sanderson will each perform a show, lecture, and take part in a
Discussion Forum at the Floatel, Northwich, Cheshire on Sunday 12th
November. All registrants will be divided into three small groups to
ensure that everyone gets the most from these professionals, on how to
work close-up commercially. The venue offers a comfortable environment for
registrants to mix and 'session' - to register online visit
www.markleveridge.co.uk.
4.11.06
35th
International Magic Convention, London, 24th – 26th November 2006. The
programme of events with approximate times has just been released:
Friday 24th November: 7pm Roger Crosthwaite - Tribute to Victor
Farelli Lecture, with Michael Vincent, 8.30pm Will Houstoun Lecture.
Saturday 25th November: Doors Open 10am for 23rd Annual Close-up
Competition, 1.30pm David Regal, 3.30pm Mickey Silver, 4.45pm James Brown,
7.30pm Gala Show 1st Performance Gala Show (repeated Sunday). Sunday
26th November: Doors Open 10am for Dealers Hall, 11am Close-up Show,
1pm Luke Jermay Lecture, 3pm Jon Armstrong Lecture, 4.45pm Competition
Awards followed by mini lectures from Ray Crowe and Mike Caveney, 7.30pm
Gala Show 2nd Performance Gala (same show as Saturday). David Stone has
also just been booked to perform (as opposed to lecture) time tbc. So, the
talent line-up now looks like this: David Stone (France), David Regal
(USA), Tony Chapek (photo - USA), Will Houstoun (UK), Lex & Alina
(Germany), Tony Chapek (USA), David Sousa (Portugal), Mickey Silver (USA),
Mike Caveney (USA), Jon Armstrong (USA), Luke Jermay (UK), Noel Britten
(UK), T J (Germany), Tina Lenert (USA), Michael Vincent (UK), Roger
Crosthwaite (UK), and James Brown (UK). What a superb line-up!
Registration options for the weekend are flexible. For more information
and to book visit
www.internationalmagic.com.
4.11.06
Barry
and Stuart are nominated for a BAFTA! They have been short listed in
the category of "Best Performance" for their television special "Tricks
from the Bible" by BAFTA Scotland. This one hour special was shown on
Channel 4 in June 2006 and featured the recreation of biblical miracles
including turning staffs into snakes, robbing a Samson of his strength and
casting the 10 plagues of Egypt. The awards are taking place on Sunday
12th November. Viewers in Scotland can watch the event on BBC1 on Monday
13th November at 10.35pm.
www.2magicians.com. Barry and Stuart feature in a new series of viral
web commercials for Vauxhall
Click
Here,
Here
and
Here!
4.11.06
Jay
Scott Berry is recognised the world over for his innovative work as a
performer and teacher of magic. He is also a theatrical producer and one
of the creative forces behind the largest public magic festival ever held
in the UK. Now in its 5th successful year, The Palace of Magic Festival
was launched at the Royal Palace in Falkland but now makes Stirling
Castle in Scotland its home. Each year, for one weekend, over 5000 people visit
from all over to see some of the world's finest magicians performing in a
truly magical setting. Jay's innovative range of magic products can be
seen at
www.jayscottberry.com/ukspecials.html.
4.11.06
quick-change-artistry.com
is a new site that will be of interest to quick change artistes worldwide.
Sven Schoppenhauer, Sos Petrosyan and Lee Alex and have pooled
their talents to produce a site that will feature up-to-date news, show
listings and news of educational lectures and related performances. (Quick
Change, the History of the Cinema and Chapeaugraphy are often the subject
of educational lectures in Universities and other institutions.) Another
important aim of the website is for Quick Change to be recognised as a
separate art from magic. Quick Change artistes for example cannot easily
compete in magic championships, or have to compete against illusionists.
The art itself is in fact older than many branches of magic. It's early
days for this new website, but it's looking very good. Visit
www.quick-change-artistry.com.
4.11.06
Wayne
Dobson's Lucky Dip... "OK Wayne I am really beginning to hate you.
Today somebody fooled the ‘*@^?’ out of me with 'Lucky Dip', I must have
one! I am begging you to stop coming out with such brilliant, simple,
elegant, powerful material. Please - it makes the rest of us look stupid!"
Andy Nyman. Here's the effect: "You display a small bag that has about 15
coins inside. The spectator dips their hand inside the bag, and removes
any coin (let us assume it is an English 10p). The spectator remembers the
coin and replaces it in the bag. The spectator takes the bag and shakes it
to mix the coins. You reach into the bag and remove a coin, and it is the
same coin as the one the spectator selected. You offer to explain how you
did it. The bag is emptied onto the table and every coin is the same, they
are all 10p coins…… Easy! You now offer to repeat the effect, only this
time the spectator signs the coin. They place all the coins into the bag
and the give it a good shake. You then reach into the bag with your quite
obviously empty hand and remove one coin. It is the signed coin! Sounds
impossible, but its true! It is also 100% self working and instantly
resets." Visit
www.waynedobson.co.uk.
4.11.06
Kerry
Scorah, Romi and Dallas have just returned from York Race Course where
they were specially chosen to entertain at the annual York Lesbian Arts
Festival. Kerry and Dallas performed close-up magic and Romi was in high
demand for her tarot readings. York Lesbian Arts Festival is a 4-day event
attracting over 2000 people from all over the world.
www.kerryscorah.co.uk
www.romi-enchantress.com.
4.11.06
Fred
Robinson - for the first time ever on DVD! "Snap, Crackle and Pop! A
Brief Interlude with Fred Robinson" available by return from
www.martinbreese.com (we'll be
bringing you a review in a couple of weeks). Martin emailed
that he would like to apologise to any customers who received duplicate
emails last week, due to a technical mistake that has now been resolved.
Also, Martin is looking for a copy of "Reel Magic by Lewis Ganson" (he
owns the rights to this booklet and wants to put it out again, together
with a locking reel that he has had made). Anyone who can lend or give
Martin a copy will be rewarded with a reel, worth about £40.00. Please email
Martin via his website if you can help.
4.11.06
Wayne
Dobson lectures at
The Modern Mystic League, Blackburn on Sunday, 5th November at 3pm
Entry (magicians only) is £10.00 for non members, and the venue is St.
Silas Parish Centre, Preston New Road, Blackburn, Lancashire. Contact
Secretary, Brian Taylor (01257) 269465 for more details. Wayne also lectures at
the
Northamptonshire Magicians' Club on 7th November at The Quality Hotel,
Ashley Way, Westone, Northampton at 8pm - arrive early to get a good seat,
non members welcome, at £8 per head.
4.11.06
Prestidigital
3 is featured in Magic DVDs this week. A quarterly DVD magazine for
magicians, I was really impressed with this disc. See
Magic DVDs.
4.11.06
The
North West Dealers Day. Geoffrey Newton emails: "The Order of The Magi
is once again presenting The North West Dealers Day, on Saturday 11th
November at the Irish World Heritage Centre in Queens Road Manchester from
10am to 4pm. All the regular dealers have booked stands for this event
that The Magi have been hosting for four years now. This time there is an
inter society lunchtime Close-Up Magic Competition with £150 in prize
money. In the afternoon Keith Kay presents an entertaining audio visual
look at the fascinating world of Optical Illusions – where seeing can be
deceiving and things are not always what they appear to be. Keith is the
author of one of the best selling books on this subject ‘Take a a Closer
Look’ which will be available on the day. There is a £50 Dealer Voucher to
be won in the raffle and the entrance fee remains at £5. Directions to the
venue are on
www.orderofthemagi.org.uk and signs are proposed to be located in the
area early on the day. Snacks will be available during the event and there
is the new Manchester Fort large retail park is next door. The NWDD is
proving very popular, giving the opportunity to buy all your new props for
Christmas Shows in a very social atmosphere." For more information email
pro@orderofthemagi.org.uk
or telephone Geoffrey Newton on 0161 969 8222 or 07769 884109.
4.11.06
Kidshowmagic.co.uk
are pleased to be able to offer Steve Axtell's latest creation "Off the
Meter!" - a visual noise meter that is secretly under the performers
control at all times, that will go "off the meter" and explode when required!
There's a video clip on the website showing the prop in action during a
live performance by Steve Axtell. The first batch sold out immediately and
www.kidshowmagic.co.uk expect new stock in 3-4 weeks and are now
taking advance orders.
4.11.06
The Magic Circle Dealers' Day
10am - 5pm, Saturday 18th November, at the
Royal National Hotel, Bedford Square, London WC1H 0DG (Map)
Entrance £5.00 (£3.00 under 16s) members free. With over 40 dealers.
Leeds
Magical Association Competition. On Tuesday 24th October, the Leeds
Magical Association held a competition in memory of the late George
Powell, a past President and long serving committee member. The theme of
the competition was comedy magic with six entrants who entertained and
enthralled the audience. The winner of the competition was Mike Coyne from
Leeds and the runner-up was Michael Jordan of Huddersfield. The other
competitors were Malcolm Bromwhich and Roxanne, Paul Kitchen, Steve Gore &
Co (Stevie B) and Paul Cheeseborough. Judging the competition was Mrs Ann
Powell and Dr Roland Brierley, a good friend of George’s. It was agreed
the evening had been a great success and will now be held annually.
Reported by Barbara Rabbetts.
4.11.06
Six
foot long bolts of million-volt lightning are created for the first
time on a New York stage by British scientists Richard Wiseman and Simon
Singh as part of their show The Theatre of Science. With the audience
seated just a few feet from the lethal sparks, there is no room for error.
As a finale to the show, one of the performers enters a coffin-shaped cage
and absorbs the full force of the strikes. The show also explores the
remarkable anatomy of Delia Du Sol, one of the UK's top contortionists, as
she performs live, demonstrating impossible body bends and squeezing into
a tiny Perspex cube. Further highlights include mind-blowing optical
illusions, a live lie detection polygraph demonstration, and a two minute
explanation of the Big Bang. This sell-out show has been staged to rave
reviews in London's West End and at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Theatre
for the New City, 9th - 12th November,
www.theatreofscience.co.uk.
4.11.06
Hot
Rod Convertible - Available from
www.mikedanatasmagicstudio.co.uk "Imagine having just performed your
best hot rod routine then, as a finale, the body of the hot rod changes to
match the colour of gem that was selected by the spectator! No Buttons, No
Chemicals, No Electricity or batteries used! Can be performed surrounded!
May be performed in the Spectators hands!..." Visit
www.mikedanatasmagicstudio.co.uk to order.
4.11.06
Richard
Leigh is casting actors for a production of 'Christmas Ghost Stories'
by Crispin Dexter and Ronald Selwyn Phillips at The Magic Cavern as part
of The Christmas season. Playing age 50 - 55, magical knowledge an
advantage but not essential. Ghost Stories is a play with magical effects
carefully interwoven into the storyline. Ghosts will walk through doors,
decapitated heads will come alive, beasts will materialise... 20th
December - 6th January 2007. Wednesday to Saturday performances at 9pm.
Email CV, Biog and Photo to
falseimpressions@gmail.com Closing date Thursday 9th November.
4.11.06
The
Rough Guide to British Cult Comedy by Julian Hall. Synopsis: "The
Rough Guide to British Cult Comedy" is the ultimate guide to live and
television comedy in Britain from the 1980s to the present day. From Ben
Elton to Alan Carr, this book profiles fifty of the most influential cult
comedy icons and discovers how they became household names. Throughout the
book, there are tips from comedians and industry insiders, with a mix of
amusing anecdotes and practical suggestions for writing and performing
your own live show and sitcom. The guide reviews the top cult comedy on TV
and in the movies, with a detailed focus on what inspired them and what
they in turn inspired. "Comedy Stories" looks at the highs and lows of
performing live comedy with tales of the rowdiest hecklers and strangest
audiences. The book comes complete with a round up of the best DVDs, books
and comic websites available. Order from Amazon.co.uk
Click Here.
4.11.06
Houdini
Lives! A Supernatural Romantic Thriller by Al Blanchard and Adam
Steinfeld is now available as in paperback or as a download via
www.lulu.com/magiclive "It's 1966, and world famous magician, escape
artist, Harry Houdini, did not die 40 years ago as people thought. He's
has been in hiding from his political enemies and is planning a dramatic
comeback. Who are these enemies from the 1920's, and why are they still
trying to kill him? Can Stanford, the young, hip, up-and-coming magician,
and his sultry assistant, Solea, save his life? A magician creates a world
of wonder and asks people to believe in that world. It is the highest form
of entertainment. What is Houdini's secret identity? Will this be his
final illusion? Ladies and Gentlemen, prepare for a tall tale of murder,
mystery, romance, and political drama. Houdini lives or dies is only a
matter of time."
4.11.06
Stephen Garcia on P&O's MV Oriana. Peter Everett reports seeing Stephen Garcia on P&Os MV Oriana. "These days Stephen does not perform large illusions but relies on sleight of hand and his good sense of comedy to entertain his audiences. His shows (each of 45 minutes duration) contained both silent routines performed to carefully chosen music and some very funny patter routines. All of his shows were very well received by the near capacity audiences." Peter Everett (Cheshire). 4.11.06
Film 2006 with Jonathan Ross reviews
The Prestige on Monday 6th
November at 11.15pm on BBC1 • "Shop local to have a
great Christmas"
Click Here • "See Sun street magic exclusive"
Click Here • "House of Horror"
Click Here • "12-year-old magician plays to the crowds"
Click Here • "Bale reveals he is descended from a magician"
Click Here • "The Magician Was a Spy? Ask Him Today!"
Click Here • "Magician's escape cage vanishes"
Click Here • Your UK magic news is always welcome, see you next week, Duncan. 4.11.06