Number 354 - 7th April 2007
Derren
Brown: Trick or Treat. Friday 13th. In this brand new six-part series
Derren Brown is at his most devilish, having persuaded members of the
public to sign a Faustian pact with him and participate in a macabre game
of Trick or Treat. In this week's opening episode, Richard, having chosen
a "Trick" card, is put to sleep in a photo booth in London only to awake
again in Marrakech. Derren attempts to plant a word in the brain of an
unsuspecting American and back in the UK he plays a game of fate with The
League of Gentlemen involving chocolate mini-rolls... Friday 13th April,
10pm Channel 4. From Derren's website: "Derren was eager to do something a
bit different from 'Trick of the Mind', and this new show has already
attracted some press attention from the tabloids. The Daily Mirror
secretly followed Derren and his crew out to Marrakech a few weeks ago
after they were tipped off that filming was taking place for the new show.
They went out with the aim of discovering a scam, or somehow showing that
the whole thing was a set-up. After filming had finished and they realised
they didn't have the exposure story they were hoping for, the journalistic
team introduced themselves to Derren's crew and owned up. The Mirror has
since interviewed the participant used in the show and is aiming to print
a feature regarding the whole escapade when the series starts to air.
Should be a fun read."
www.derrenbrown.co.uk. Derren Brown video clips
Click Here. Derren Brown theatre tour dates, see
What's On.
7.4.07
An
Explosion of Talent for Southport 2007! Details of this year's British
Ring Convention (Southport, September 12th-16th) have just been released -
and it's looking very, very, good! Booked to date: The Great Tomsoni &
Co., Paul Zenon, Les Bubb, David Williamson, Gaeton Bloom, Michael
Vincent, Rocco, Scott & Muriel, Rafael, Tim Gabrielson, Joanie Spina,
Murray Hatfield & Teresa, Lennart Green, Bill Malone, Boris Wild, Magic
Al, Vik & Fabrini and last year's Shield Winner Paul Dabek. To register
online visit:
www.britishring.org.uk.
7.4.07
"It
takes years of training to become the best." Magicians,
the upcoming movie directed by Andrew O'Connor and starring David Mitchell
and Robert Webb is
set for imminent release (May 18th TBC). Here's the latest teaser:
Click
Here. 7.4.07
BBC
plans music hall revival. "The BBC are testing the idea of televising
a modern-day version of music hall entertainment. Comedians including
Milton Jones, Jo Caulfield, Harry Enfield and Marcus Brigstocke have been
lined up for a pilot edition of Down At The Old Clapham Grand. The
show, to be recorded in the former Victorian variety hall in South London
later this month, will also feature music by Madness and magic from Stuart
and Barry..." To read the full story from Chortle
Click Here.
7.4.07
Jonathan
Ross meets pop singer turned illusionist Princess Tenko in "Japanorama
- Legends" on Monday 9th April at 11pm on BBC 3. "Jonathan Ross presents a
series about Japanese culture. He dives into some true Japanese classics,
from ramen noodles to timeless superheroes, and interviews Quentin
Tarantino's favourite action star, Sonny Chiba. Jonathan also swaps magic
tricks with illusionist Princess Tenko, shows how to count to two in
Japanese, and 'raps' it all up with an Ian Dury-style tribute to all
things Japanese."
7.4.07
International
News: German Quick Change artist and author Lex Schoppi (Lex
& Alina) and co-author, British born international illusionist
Lee Alex, lecture on
the art of quick change at the
52nd Austrian Convention of Magicians 2007 in Vienna (13th-18th August
2007). The second edition of the best-selling Quick Change - rapid
costume changes for men is available from:
www.quickchange.de.
7.4.07
Noel
Britten's Bizarre Bath comedy walk is back for another season: "You'll
laugh yourself silly when you join the celebrated stroll which takes an
irreverent look at the city of Bath. You'll experience unforgettable
mysteries, thrills, and surprises that stretch the traditional image of
the city." Now in its 16th year - why not plan to take the walk on
Saturday 12th May (the day before the nearby
Bristol Day of
Magic). Visit
www.bizarrebath.co.uk for details.
7.4.07
The
forthcoming Magic Circle Heritage Auction, at 2.30pm on Sunday 3rd
June 2007, at The Magic Circle headquarters in London will feature 230
first-class lots including a set of Albo books and a copy of The Magic of
Robert Harbin together with memorabilia and promotional items from many
famous names. There are several props which belonged to Robert Harbin
including his Vanishing Vase of Flowers and Vanishing Radio and an
important archive of handwritten notes and ideas from Al Koran, as well as
duplicates from The Magic Circle Collection such as photos of Alexander
and Adelaide Herrmann, as well as Devant photos, scarce tokens and other
rarities including an impressive selection of vintage catalogues and magic
sets and posters from such greats as Murray, Levante, Edgar Benyon, Lyle,
Sorcar, Tommy Cooper, David Nixon, Chevalier Thorn, Charlton and others.
Sale manager Tim Reed emailed the he is particularly proud to have secured
two Servais LeRoy Friedlander posters and the stunning Chung Ling Soo
Smoke Vase litho. Catalogues are £12 each (available shortly) and include
entrance to the auction and all Sunday morning events. Available from:
Heritage Auction, The Magic Circle, 12 Stephenson Way, London NW1 2HD.
Telephone 020 7387 2222 (Visa or MasterCard accepted, cheques payable to
'The Magic Circle').
7.4.07
International
News: The 1st Albufeira International Magic Festival in the heart of
Portugal's Algarve region takes place on May 11th - 13th. This Festival is
organised by the Portuguese Magic Association (API) and the Algarve is
served by numerous low cost flight companies. For full convention details
(including information about the competitions)
Click Here and then click on the 'API Convention 2007' star logo in
the top right corner for the English version.
7.4.07
T&A
Tour. Andi Gladwin has just returned from a two week, fourteen date
lecture tour of the United States. He presented a joint lecture with
Canadian magician Tyler Wilson (author of the acclaimed book
Dominatricks). The duo's travels took them though Texas, Oklahoma,
Tennessee, Kansas, Iowa and Illinois. Andi said, "While I've given a
number of lectures at clubs and conventions, this was the first time I've
actually done a full lecture tour. It was a lot of fun and allowed us to
meet some fantastic magicians, including a hero of mine - Martin Gardner,
who we got to spend the afternoon with. I can't wait to tour and lecture
again!"
www.andigladwin.co.uk.
7.4.07
New
President of The Order of the Magi Nick Barnes (photo) has just
released the 2007–2008 syllabus for the society. This is an exciting
programme of lectures, competitions, club nights, auctions and social
events. Some of the highlights include Steve Dacri from the USA and Tony
Binarelli from Italy. Full details of the year to March 2008 and
membership information is now on
www.orderofthemagi.org.uk.
Guests are welcome to lectures on payment of £10 but please contact Mike
Sharples
secretary@orderofthemagi.org.uk or on 0161 287 7865 first, in order
that he may look out for you to extend a welcome. Geoffrey Newton PRO.
7.4.07
International
News: Alejandro Kei and Leandro Morgado's Mind FX Tour 2007 begins on
April 12th at the emblematic Portuguese "Teatro da Trindade" theatre.
Their authors and performers Alejandro Kei (Spain) and Leandro Morgado
(Portugal) enjoyed great success last year at the same theatre, with a
total sold-out show. The show is 60 minutes long combining NLP, suggestion
and comedy, resulting in a very entertaining evening, far from the classic
'mentalists' type show. Mind FX will be at the "Teatro da Trindade" in
Lisbon from April 12th to 28th, then it's off to Porto and Albufeira in
Portugal, and Cádiz and Málaga in Spain. The show is being performed in
English, Spanish and Portuguese (depending on location).
www.mfxonline.com.
7.4.07
Magic
and Mystery prevailed at the Cubbington Sports and Social Club on
Wednesday 4th April when six members of the
Leamington and
Warwick Magic Society competed for the prestigious Society Shield for
the best stage act. Performing in front of 100 people the competitors
provided a feast of strange happenings from mind-reading and
flesh-piercing to the more traditional linking rings and rabbit
production. Appearing before six judges (three magic experts - Myles and
Linda Pollock and Ian Milton - and three lay-people) the competitors in
order of appearance were Bernard Visgandis (general magic), Martin Key
(mind-reading), Ivor Williamson (bizarre comedy), Keith Pearson (comedy
magic), Jonathan Lovett (classics of magic) and Paul Kybert (general and
comedy magic). The judges awarded Paul Kybert (photo) first prize,
Jonathan Lovett second and Bernard Visgandis third. Paul is also currently
the society's Close-up Magician of the Year.
7.4.07
Terry
Herbert lectures at the Mystic Ring on Thursday the 19th of April.
Terry will be presenting his lecture “The Magic of Comedy” featuring a
mixture of comedy routines for both the adult and the children's
entertainer with excerpts from his commercial acts. The lecture takes
place at The Dunstable Conservative Club, 49 High Street North, Dunstable,
Bedfordshire. Visiting magicians welcome, £5 admission. Lecture starts at
7.45pm. For further details email
themysticring@hotmail.com.
7.4.07
Amethyst
(Danny Hunt and Annette Claire), will appear at the Northern Magic
Circle's Easter Parade, which is to be held at the Swallows Three Tuns
Hotel, New Elvet, Durham from Saturday 7th - Monday 9th April. The couple
will present their new act in the Gala show at the Gala Theatre,
Millennium Place, Durham at 8pm on the Saturday and will also present
their lecture 'In the footsteps of Houdini' as well as a workshop during
the convention. For more information contact
amethystmagic007@aol.com or
visit
www.northernmagiccircle.org.uk.
7.4.07
Street
Magic Secrets with David Penn is released on Monday April 9th. From the
makers: "Tricks are David Penn’s trade and in Street Magic Secrets David
reveals, in easy to follow stage-by-stage explanations, the secrets to
performing mind-blowing magic. Accessible, entertaining and utterly
extraordinary, this is the very first DVD to disclose the methodology
behind some of street magic’s best-kept secrets. Boasting over 2-hours
worth of viewing, the production values of Street Magic Secrets are urban
and contemporary. On a scale of time versus reward, all the tricks
featured can be achieved quickly, without the need for weeks of study and
rehearsal. David Penn helped to pioneer the modern style of magic known as
Close-Up and has won more national awards for his unique style of magic
than any other magician in the UK. David is so highly respected in his
field of magic that he was awarded ‘Associate Member of the Inner Magic
Circle’ and has been called upon to lecture for the International Magic
Circle on two separate occasions. David will be back on the small screen
in the summer when he co-presents The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, a new
series for BBC1." Available nationwide, or via Amazon.co.uk from April 9th
Click Here.
7.5.07
Rob
James manipulates the cards in Decoding the Past: Secrets of the
Playing Card tonight at 11pm on History Channel. "Normal decks of
playing cards actually conceal hidden meanings that have links to secret
societies and the occult. Who made them and why?" See
TV Magic.
7.4.07
Dave
Allen lectures and performs at the Northern Magic Circle's Easter
Parade this weekend, see
What's On for details of the convention.
7.4.07
Andrew
Green and Paul Roberts performed at Coleen McLoughlin's 21st Birthday
party last week. The party was set in a huge circus themed marquee at
Thornton Manor on the Wirral and included a custom designed ice bar,
carnival fairground rides and enormous centre piece table sculptures with
an awards style stage set. Entertainment included an aerial circus
display, a host of contortionists, jugglers and stilt walkers. The
floorshow featured the West End show ‘The Rat Pack’ and was rounded off
with a set from the Sugababes. Andrew and Paul entertained guests
including Steven Gerrard, Rio Ferdinand, Sheree Murphy, Abigail Clancy and
Peter Crouch.
www.modernmysteries.co.uk.
7.4.07
Channel
4 are making of a new series of 'A Place by the Sea', the programme
that helps house-hunting hopefuls find their dream home by the coast, and
are looking for people to take part in the new series. Previous series
have helped a young fashion designer look for a bohemian bolt-hole, a
writer in search of a remote croft to hammer out his great unfinished
novel and a burned-out city boy who swapped the trading floor for a quiet
B & B. This time they'd like to help a magician! Are you looking to
relocate, buy a second home or do you fancy your chances starting a new
business venture? ‘A Place by the Sea’, presented by property guru Seetha
Hallett, trawls every nautical mile of the UK coastline proving that there
are still property gems to be found in all sorts of unlikely places.
Anyone serious about finding their dream home or business property should
contact Jo Harrison on 0161 235 6567 or email
joh@fftv.co.uk for an application
form.
7.4.07
Shaun
O'Donoughue, the treasurer of the
South Downs
Magicians club stood down as treasurer after 25 years service to the
club. The only remaining founder member, he handed over the cheque book
and the running of the club's finances at the South Downs Magicians' AGM
last week. Shaun said: "I have enjoyed my time as treasurer but I feel it
is time to stand down." Club members presented Shaun with gardening
vouchers as a token of their thanks. Shaun will still be a member of the
club which is preparing to celebrate its 25th anniversary later this year.
7.4.07
Deafblind UK have had donations from Derren Brown and Uri Geller in the past; we featured their request in MagicWeek two weeks ago. Jonathan Lucia-Wright, Senior support worker emailed: "There is magic for deaf people and limited magic for blind people but nothing for deafblind people. This got me thinking, and I set myself a new challenge. So for the last 5 years I have been attending the Blackpool convention and have been researching magic. Next year my client has informed me that he wants to attend the convention, but due to guides and carers he will not be able to afford to go. So I am on the beg/scrounge for anyone who can help at all with donations I would really like him to go it would mean so much to him and to me." Please email Jonathan for more information instantmash@hotmail.com or call his work number 01733 325353. To find out more about deafblindness visit www.deafblind.org.uk. 7.4.07
Phil
Smith kindly sent through a copy of his new book 'Mitox' - I've only
had time to have a quick look but if you're into mentalism then this book
should be on your "must read" list:
http://mitox.phillsmiff.com • "Sorry for Vanessa? Now that’s magic"
Click Here • "The weekend's TV"
Click Here • "Magician hopes to make children's tobacco interests
'disappear'"
Click Here • "Long time television magician 'Mr. Magic' falls upon
hard times"
Click Here • "Tricky teen prepares for magic contest"
Click Here •
www.mikedanatasmagicstudio.co.uk in Bournemouth is open all weekend
again, with 10% off again - details on the website • "Digital Music Group
pulls 'Mindfreak' out of its hat"
Click Here • "Will Houdini be there? Remains to be seen"
Click Here • That's it! Enjoy the bank holiday weekend, see you next week, Duncan. 7.4.07