Number 399 - 16th February 2008
A
nine foot high bronze statue of Tommy Cooper is to be unveiled by Sir
Anthony Hopkins at 12 noon on Saturday 23rd February in Caerphilly. Sir
Anthony has always been a fan and loves doing impressions of Tommy Cooper,
who was born in this Welsh town.
The Tommy
Cooper Society has raised thousands of pounds to finance the statue,
which is being erected in the centre of the town overlooking Caerphilly
Castle. Once the statue has been unveiled The Tommy Cooper Society will be
turning their attention to converting the local Workmen’s Hall into a
theatre to be used by everyone from professional performers to amateur
dramatic societies and schools. It will be renamed the ‘Tommy Cooper
Theatre’. At present it is in a fairly run-down state.
The Magic Circle
will be presenting a fund-raising show at the venue in Caerphilly on
Friday 28th March. David Ball is to compere and the show will star Alan
Shaxon, Brian Miller and Audrey, Keith Cooper and Carol, Mike O’Brien,
Peter Scarlett and Rob Page. David Beckley and Geoffrey Newton will be
performing close-up magic during the interval. Tickets can be obtained
from the box office on 02920 880011. Further information can be obtained
from David Ball on 01923 822589 or email
secretary@themagiccircle.co.uk.
16.2.08
Magic
to Cry For. standnotamazed present ‘Magic to Cry For’ at
Bethnal Green Working Men’s Club at 8pm on Thursday 28th February.
Following the sell-out success of their last evening standnotamazed
are happy to hop back on to the cabaret stage and present another serving
of ‘Magic to Cry For’ "a delectable evening of sophisticated cabaret from
London’s most refined creators of contemporary magic". Special Guest
Artists Include: Richard Pinner, Alexis Terry, The Spikes, Toomuchdance,
Arthur’s Tea Party, Piff the Magic Dragon and DJ Kombine. Bethnal Green
Working Men’s Club, 42 Pollard Row, London E2 6NB. Tickets £5.00, Doors
7.30pm, Show 8.30pm Tickets on the door or call 07891 894 092 / 07802
770966
www.standnotamazed.com.
16.2.08
Zorro
the Musical. Magic consultant Scott Penrose will be designing magic,
illusions, quick change items and special effects for the upcoming stage
production of Zorro and will also be building magic props and illusions
alongside David Shakarian. Zorro will preview at the Eastbourne Congress
Theatre for four nights before its premiere at the New Victoria Theatre,
Woking. It may then move to the West End. The production features a cast
of 30 and flamenco dancers with music by the Gypsy Kings.
www.zorro.com.
16.2.08
Mel
Mellers is back! "Hot on the heels of his best-selling twin DVD set
Tickling the Mind, comes Mel Mellers' brand new DVD, Undiscovered Wonder,
featuring eight jam-packed routines - complete with all the gags and
presentational plots you'll need. The clown is dead... welcome to Mel
Mellers' Undiscovered Wonder the very latest DVD from the ever inventive
mind of one of Britain's most successful comedy magicians." Pre-order now
and receive a 15% discount:
www.rsvpmagic.com. The disc is featured
in MagicWeek this week, see
Magic DVDs.
16.2.08
Drew
McAdam will be lecturing at the Aberdeen Magical Society
www.aberdeenmagic.com on Tuesday, 26th February. The lecture is
expected to focus on the business aspects of selling a show and building a
career. Drew McAdam uses his mindplay skills to entertain, educate and
motivate blue chip corporations.
www.drewmcadam.co.uk.
If you are not a member of Aberdeen Magical Society and wish to attend you
are asked to contact the Society in advance via
www.aberdeenmagic.com.
16.2.08
Marvin’s
Magic and Arby’s Cadabra. Fast food chain Arby’s who have over 3,500
restaurants in the USA and Canada have teamed up with UK magic company
Marvin’s Magic for a unique kids promotion. Due to hit stores in mid
February the Arby’s Cadabra promotion will include a free magic toy in all
kids meals. These include a unique magic handbook featuring tricks, hints
and tips from Marvin Berglas. This is set to be a huge promotion with
2,500,000 branded Marvin’s Magic toys being issued including around
700,000 of the Marvin’s Magic books. Marvin Berglas, creator of Marvin’s
Magic said "We are delighted to have been chosen to partner Arby’s in the
USA and Canada. This highlights the high recognition for our brand
worldwide being synonymous with solid family values as well as the ever
popular interest in magic."
www.marvinsmagic.com.
16.2.08
Peter
Duffie's Alternative Magic. "Peter Duffie's Alternative Magic website
has been offering original magic, electronic books and CD ROM videos at low
prices for over a decade. However, you don't need to spend money when you
visit the site because there are over 60 quality tricks that you can read
and learn free of charge, with new tricks added frequently, and there is
no registration required. Peter is currently offering a three-for-two deal
- Buy any two items from the site and choose another item absolutely free!
No conditions - no catches. Check it out as you've nothing to lose, but
much to gain!" Visit
www.peterduffie.com today!
16.2.08
Party
Animal Matthew J. Dowden lectures at the Downtown Magic Club, Ashford,
Kent at 8pm on Monday 18th February. Star of the best-selling Party Animal
DVD, Matthew's lecture features an interactive section for the whole
audience, so be sure to bring a deck of cards (if you forget then pop in
to Alakazam Magic
on the way!). Visit
www.downtownmagicclub.co.uk for details.
16.2.08
Lomond
Magic, run by full time entertainer David Lees, is based in Scotland,
close to Loch Lomond. Founder David Lees performs for children and at
family shows, working with ventriloquism, magic and balloon modelling, and
also performs close-up magic and 'Bizarre magick' for adults. He is also
involved in mentalism and many of the products in the range will
eventually reflect his own interests in magic. Visit
www.lomondmagic.com
today!
16.2.08
Electric
Empire presents ‘Magic Night: Mind Magic’ at Soho Revue Bar on Friday
7th March. Doors open 7pm, Show starts at 8pm. Tickets £10.00 Concessions
£7.00 via
www.ticketweb.co.uk 08700 600 100. "Magic Night celebrates its first
birthday on 7th March 2008 - forget top hats, flouncy capes and white
rabbits! In this show we present the most cutting edge magic, awesome
illusionists, an amazing physical act and the most contemporary and
original musical act currently strumming a ukulele. Performers on the
night include: Barry and Stuart, Michael Vadini, Lady Carol, Tiffany
Stevenson and Toby Caldwell, with close-up magic from Neil Henry and Lee
Hathaway, who will again be presenting their unique and innovative
tabletop magic prior to the main show. Soho Revue Bar, 11 Walkers Court,
London W1
www.sohorevuebar.com.
16.2.08
Peter
McLanachan will be presenting his “A Force Much Greater Than Luck”
lecture at
Forth Valley Magic Circle, The Station Hotel, Foundry Loan, Larbert on
Monday 18th February at 7.30pm. Visiting magicians are welcome and should
email Forth Valley Magic Circle's Secretary
secretary@forthvalleymagic.co.uk for full details.
www.thecardman.co.uk.
16.2.08
Spellbound
- A Family Magic and Puppet Show for half-term "Following the success
of their Sparkly Magic Family Fun Show 2 years ago, the
Northamptonshire Magicians Club are returning to the Spinney Hill
Theatre in the February Half-term with a brand new production for all the
Family suitable for children of all ages. The show has a varied and
talented line-up of children's entertainers including Royston the
Magician, Steve Dimmer, Silly Soapy, Chris Cullen and special guest
ventriloquist Chris Bylett & Company (featuring Desmond the Duck and
Charlie!). The whole package will provide 2 hours of fun-filled
professional magic and puppet entertainment with music, comedy and
participation." Venue: The Spinney Hill Theatre (Northampton School for
Girls), Spinney Hill Road, Northampton NN3 6DG on Thursday 21st February
at 2.30pm All seats £5.50. Ample free car parking. For further details
telephone the Box Office: 01604 409010.
16.2.08
Bill
Thompson's Winks Diary. Brand new for the Blackpool Convention from
rsvpmagic.com this really is as clean, simple and easy to do as it gets.
No stacked decks, no multiple outs, no marked cards. In fact you don't
even have to use a deck at all! "I didn't see that coming - and you can
quote me... it's great!" Jeff McBride "Awesome - I want to feature that in
my show" Greg Frewin. These were the reactions from two world-class
performers when they were shown the diary just a few days ago. See the
trailer and pre-order now before it's release at Blackpool and receive a
15% discount by visiting
www.rsvpmagic.com.
16.2.08
Magic
Dave (Dave Allen) is pleased to announce that he'll be lecturing at
the Blackpool Magic Convention this year with a new lecture entitled
Bish Bash Bosh. Dave will also be launching a brand new DVD to
accompany the talk, featuring lots of new routines an ideas for the
children's entertainer.
www.magicroundabout.net.
16.2.08
Gary
Jones will be presenting his lecture "No Frills Just Magic" at the
Scarborough Circle of Magicians on Tuesday 1st April. The lecture is
jam packed with commercial material and advice on working in the "real
world". For recent reviews
Click Here and
Click Here.
www.garyjonesmagic.com.
16.2.08
Mike
Danata's Magic Studio. Mike Danata emails: "My website has been
revamped, and has a new search facility. We also now have a Freephone
number for orders and enquiries from the UK, the number is 0800 118 26 55.
I am also very happy to phone potential customers in the following
countries to discuss items they may require: USA, Canada, Australia, New
Zealand, France, Spain, Italy Germany and the Netherlands. All orders go
out the same day, post free Worldwide unless stated. We currently have
about 15000 items in stock, but not everything is on the website, due to
lack of time to get everything on! Everything on the website, is in stock
(unless I slip up!)." Visit
www.mikedanatasmagicstudio.co.uk today!
16.2.08
Magic
by Numbers. "magic by numbers is a brand new training course
designed to show you how to grow your magic business quickly and
effectively. Designed and presented by professional magician Andrew
Murray, this course is a masterclass on the business aspects of magic."
The first courses run on March 2nd in London and March 9th in Birmingham.
Visit
www.magicbynumbers.com for full course details.
16.2.08
Marc
Oberon will be releasing several new products next week at the
Blackpool Convention: "The Floating Wand is a great new close-up illusion
similar to the dancing cane but allowing a much wider choice of performing
situations. Marc's new Master Deck book contains many new ideas for use
with his gimmicked deck. It includes routines such as Any Card Named
Rising, Any Card at Any Number with the Master Deck and Deck Vanish
Leaving Just the Named Card. Matthew Field, Editor of the Magic Circular,
says about The Master Deck: 'Marc Oberon has created a very clever aid for
the serious card magician.' Also look out for Cap-It - any named or signed
card can magically appear inside of a previously shown empty baseball cap
on your own or a spectator's head at any point during your routine."
16.2.08
He
made it! Following three successful escapes as part of Blackpool's
Showzam festival Danny Hunt and Annette Claire, (Amethyst) return to
Blackpool next weekend to take part in the "UK v the Rest of the World"
show at the Opera House on Saturday 23rd February. They will appear with
their escapology act featuring "The Death Tank" - their new version of
Houdini's classic Water Torture Cell. To see Danny and Annette's latest
stunt at Louis Tussaud's, visit
www.blackpooltoday.co.uk. To read recent reviews
Click Here.
(Picture courtesy Redvers Photographic).
16.2.08
Blogging
Blackpool. Sussex Magic Circle Members Matt Parro (photo), Stuart
Harley and Geoff Hunt will be reviewing the Blackpool Convention via a
live Blog which will contain thoughts and photos on this year's programme,
as it happens! So, if you can’t make the convention this year, but want
the very latest, visit
www.mattparro.com.
16.2.08
Presidents Wanted! A historic photograph is being arranged at the Blackpool Convention. Presidents of all Magical Societies are invited to bring their Chain of Office to pose in a group photograph of all the Presidents who attended the Blackpool Convention. The photograph will be taken in 'The Ice Room' at the Winter Gardens at 10.30am on Saturday 23rd February by ace photographer Peter Jenkins. If you have any questions contact Anne Lever at: d.lever1@sky.com. 16.2.08
Chris Priest will be presenting his new lecture, containing many of his professional routines, at the Blackpool Convention at 7.30pm on the Friday evening in the Pavilion Theatre. All the routines will be available on a 3 DVD set “Master Coin Routine”, “Master Card Routines” and “Protons” together with a giant chromed coin (featured in the routines) from the World Magic Shop stand on the Balcony. See the YouTube link Click Here. 16.2.08
Neil Collet (aka Barnaby) has just completed a two month cruise for Colorline, on the Norway/Germany route. The ship, called 'The Fantasy', is the second largest ferry/cruise ship in the world. The largest being Colorlines new ship 'The Magic'. Next, Neil flies to Kristiansand, in southern Norway, to work on their high speed boat service to Denmark. "It's hard work", Neil says, "but also very rewarding". 16.2.08
Wayne Goodman will be lecturing at Bolton Magicians Club on Wednesday 20th February at 8.30pm. All welcome at the Doffcocker Inn, Chorley Old Road, Bolton. www.waynegoodman.co.uk. 16.2.08
There's 10% off everything at www.worldmagicshop.co.uk until midnight Sunday. Visit their new-look website today. Gary Jones reviews two new World Magic Shop DVDs this week, Click Here, and Rob James reviews Coinvexed, Click Here. 16.2.08
"Catherine
Zeta-Jones shows off more than her range"
Click Here • "Probably The World’s Greatest Magic Show"
Click Here • "Now you see it. Now you don’t - students taught magic as
part of degree"
Click Here • "Magician Lifts Ft 1.5 million from Hungarian Bank"
Click Here • "Bluegrass start to 2008 arts season"
Click Here • "Copperfield: I'll Try and Make Your Suit Disappear!"
Click Here • "Could it be magic?...er, no, actually"
Click Here • "Siegfried & Roy Roar Back for Charity"
Click Here • "Conjuror is out to light up Blackpool by magic"
Click Here • Next week we'll be taking a look at the new tripple DVD
set from Big Blind Media
The Omega
Mutation which launches at the
Blackpool
Convention, together with Adam
Bloom's Twisting Fate, but that's it for this week - see you in
Blackpool next weekend, Duncan.
16.2.08