Number 538 - 16th October 2010
Peter
Wardell is The Magic Circle's Stage Magician of the Year 2010/11.
Pete took two classics of magic, his newly introduced version of the
Salt Pour and his Covent Garden Cups & Balls routine, and put on a great
show at the Magic Circle's London HQ last Sunday. Dry wit was combined
with perfect timing and excellent misdirection; there's a real joy in
watching magic at this level.
Oliver Tabor
was placed second with an original act in which he transforms from
musician to magician, and top London based professional
Nick Einhorn came
third. Eight acts competed. The judges were actor Graham Cole, Magic
Circular editor Matthew Field and stage and cabaret magician Peter
Scarlett. Magic
Circle president Jack Delvin presented the awards, commenting that
Peter Wardell
is now the only magician to have won both the Close-up and Stage awards
at The Magic Circle.
The competition was created in 2000 by Michael Bailey, and this year's
sold-out event was produced by Michael Bailey,
Michael Carr, Keith Cooper and Rob Page. Stage Direction: Rob Page.
Technical crew: Kevin Doig, Roy Marsh and Natalie Cro.
16.10.10
Six
weeks and counting.... Since its introduction just a few short years
ago the awarding of The David Berglas International Magic Award has
become a highlight of the International Magic Convention (26th to 28th
November at The Mermaid Theatre). Two years ago Uri Geller was the
recipient and received the Award, in person, in front of a packed
audience. Last year David Copperfield received the award live in Las Vegas
via a big screen video hookup. Each year following the
presentation by David Berglas the recipient has
agreed to take any questions from the audience, which has resulted in a
fascinating hour of anecdotes, newly revealed facts, a great deal of
humour and insight into these great performers lives. Who
will be the recipient this year? Well, you'll have to be there to find
out. As always, the recipient is a closely guarded secret until
the presentation is made on the day.
www.internationalmagic.com.
16.10.10
Horizon - Is Seeing Believing?
Series exploring topical scientific issues. "Horizon explores the
strange and wonderful world of illusions - and reveals the tricks they
play on our senses and why they fool us. We show how easy it is to trick
your sense of taste by changing the colours of food and drink, explain
how what you see can change what you hear, and see just how unreliable
our sense of colour can be. But all this trickery has a serious purpose.
It's helping scientists to create a new understanding of how our senses
work - not as individual senses, but connected together. It holds the
intriguing possibility that one sense could be mapped into another. This
is what happened to Daniel Kish, who lost his sight as a child. He is
now able to create a vision of the world by clicking his tongue which
allows him to echolocate like a bat. And scientists have now discovered
that Daniel's brain has actually rewired itself enabling him to use
sound to create a visual image of the world." 9pm on Monday 18th October
on BBC 2. See TV Magic.
16.10.10
Magic Night - London.
"Magic Night, now in its fifth year, continues to be one of the best
contemporary cabaret nights on the circuit - with incredible cutting
edge magic acts and some of the best variety in town." See
What's On for November
dates
www.magicnight.co.uk.
16.10.10
High
Jinx Magic Roadshow.
The Dangerous, Daring and Exciting New Show for Kids! "'Don’t try this at home!' will be heard by thousands of children this
half term as the High Jinx Magic & Circus Show tours its new production
across the UK this October.
Described as ‘A Wicked Variety Show for Kids of All Ages’, multi-award
winning act and Young Magician of the year, Michael Jordan and friends
offer a thrilling mix of magic, illusion, escapology, juggling, music
and
laughs guaranteed to leave your kids entertained and amazed! 'We wanted to present a family show that was totally unique and linked
in with all the latest variety shows on television,' explained the
show's Director Chris Gidney. 'This production offers great excitement
whilst encouraging children to develop their own interests in magic and
circus.'" For October tour dates see
What's On.
16.10.10
Carl
& Dave - the video diary. Carl Charlesworth & David Allen, winners
of the British Ring IBM Best Magical Comedy Act 2010 at Eastbourne last
month, made a video diary charting the act's evolution, from prop
building to music editing to rehearsals and the final show filmed in
Eastbourne. The video diary has been split into 4 parts.
Click Here to see part 1, and see YouTube for links to 2,3 & 4.
16.10.10
Christmas
Laughter Party. Magician Peter Baffles is appearing in Christmas
Laughter Party at the Babbacombe Theatre in Torquay, together with Andy
Oakley, Paul Cobley, Lee Goode, Lisa Walker and Ruby Washington every
Wednesday (matinee and evenings) from October 27th, to 1st January 2011.
Visit
www.babbacombe-theatre.com for details.
16.10.10
Perth
Magic Circle host an Auction and Table Top Sale at 7.30pm on
Wednesday 20th October in the Perth Ex-Servicemen's Club. Doors open at
7pm to allow sellers to set out their tables. This should be a good
night because there will be no charge for admission, no charge for
sellers and no commission charged for items auctioned! Scottish
magicians are welcome to come and join in the fun, make some cash and
grab a bargain. Tables must be booked in advance strictly on a 'first
come -first served' basis. For more information and to book a table,
contact club secretary, Adrian Harris, 01738 628985 or email
adrian.harris@blueyonder.co.uk.
16.10.10
Escapology
meets systems engineering! The worlds of systems engineering and
escapology overlap in a spectacular fashion when Dr Jon Holt,
internationally-renowned systems engineer, puts his life on the line
recreating and reengineering Houdini’s classic upside-down straitjacket
escape, but on a burning rope! Jon abandons his usual mentalism
performances to demonstrate how rigorous engineering techniques can be
applied to safety-critical systems (any system where people may be hurt
if things go wrong) by performing this classic stunt. Jon has previously
won awards for his original and innovative approaches to teaching and
disseminating engineering best practice, and this stunt shows his
latest, and most spectacular, effort to date. Jon will be delivering a
webinar on October 19th (‘Modelling the most extreme safety-critical
applications’
Click Here) to show how this was done, before showing footage of him
performing the stunt itself. The webinar is aimed at engineers rather
than magicians; a shortened, more exciting version will appear on
YouTube in the near future. Jon Holt is an engineer by day, a mentalist
by night and a Member of Psycrets.
16.10.10
Jon
Allen is interviewed by David Corsaro for 'Time To Be Awesome'. He
discusses his approach to magic, his opening line, and why he is tipping
is award-winning act. Watch the video at
www.timetobeawesome.com.
16.10.10
The Chris Cross Carny Cabaret Show at Madame JoJo’s. "The Chris
Cross Carny Cabaret is an old school variety show with pure rock ’n’
roll spice sprinkled on top. Three half hour shows separated by half
hour intervals come packed with thrills and delights: come and be
shocked by the man who plays with his life in a game of Russian Roulette
using electric powerdrills, look on as the dazzling girl from the giant
glittery strawberry shoots sparks from her body, laugh at some of the
finest comedians in London, witness the girl who burns her body for fun
and who eats fire for giggles, gasp at the most entertaining
contortionist & escapologist in the world – to name but a few of the
stimulating and exhilarating experiences that await you in the world of
the Carny Cabaret!" For full details visit
www.madamejojos.com. The Chris Cross Carny Cabaret Show, launching
on Thursday 25th November. Doors 7.30pm, Show 8.45pm, Tickets £12 in
advance, general admission (early birds get the best seats) £15 cash on
the door. Tickets:
www.ticketweb.co.uk.
www.chris-cross.co.uk.
16.10.10
The
Mysterium. A magical look into the world of the Victorian
Occultists. What was it they sort? Magic, mystery and a little bit of
strange. Described as a magic show like no other, this show is to be
held at Whittington Castle, Castle Street, Whittington, Oswestry SY11
4DF (Map)
on Thursday 28th October at 7.30pm. Limited to just 38 places. Tickets
are available by phoning the Castle on 01691 662397.
www.robchapman.weebly.com and
www.whittingtoncastle.co.uk.
16.10.10
Archer on target.
If you seek original ideas you can do no better than to attend the Danny
Archer lectures at Blackpool Magicians’ Club on Tuesday 26th October.
Danny specialises in performing visual dynamic magic for corporate
events (both close-up and stand-up) and has lectured at magic clubs and
conventions all over the world including the Blackpool Convention where
he was a big success. Members and associates are looking forward to his
visit to the Blackpool Magicians’ Club, rear of No 1 Sherbourne Road,
North Shore, Blackpool, Lancashire FY1 2PW (Map).
Doors open from 6.30pm.
www.blackpoolmagic.com.
16.10.10
Francis Menotti Lecture - Winchester
Magical Society. Francis Menotti presents his lecture The Creativity
Show for the Winchester Magical Society at 8pm on Thursday 21st October.
Francis will aim to show that we are all capable of inventing new ideas
and creating different ways of performing magic.
Non members are welcome to attend on payment of a £5 admission charge.
Further details from
president@winchestermagic.com.
Venue: Badger Farm Community Centre, Badger Farm Road, Winchester SO22
4QB (Map).
More info:
www.francismenotti.com.
16.10.10
I
Can't Believe It's NOT Christmas Show. Christmas comes early to the
village of Marsden near Huddersfield. "I Can't Believe It's NOT
Christmas Show" will star John Archer, High Jinx, The Bernie Heys
Dancers and The Magic Light Puppets. The show features Comedy, Magic,
Illusion, Singing and Dancing - Marsden Parochial Hall 18th, 19th and
20th November at 7.30pm (plus 2.30pm matinee on the Saturday). Tickets
£8.00 concessions £6.00. To book tickets telephone 07837 080225. High
Jinx (Michael and Siobhan Jordan) will also be appearing at the French
Magic Convention held at Disney's Newport Bay Club, Paris, from October
21st - 24th.
www.paris2010.magie-ffap.com.
16.10.10
JezO’s
Magic and Laughter Show. "Featuring the rising star of comedy magic
JezO (Jeremy Bond), this show will appeal to children from 4–10 and,
importantly, to their parents and grandparents. JezO’s great comedy
skills, together with a thorough grounding and understanding of magic
and illusion, put the emphasis very firmly on entertainment. His
performance is high energy and he presents original magic as well as
some great classics, all in his unique style, all with great comic
twists. There is much audience involvement and participation. JezO has a
special talent for developing an instant rapport with children, young
teenagers and adults. The inevitable result is that everyone who sees
his show wants to see it again… and again." 10.30am and 2.30pm on
Saturday 23rd October at Linton Village College, Linton, Cambridge CB2
4JB. Box office 01954 718227. And Tuesday 26th October at2.30pm at
Neuadd Dwyfor, Stryd Penlan, Pwllheli, Gwynedd. Box office 01758 704088
www.jezo.co.uk.
16.10.10
News
from Extreme
Clowning: "Extreme
Clowning would like to thank Kaymar Magic for their help
with donations for our recent trip to Denmark. Jimmy and I performed a half an hour magic slot in front of an
audience of 350 people.
Jimmy was born deaf and went blind at the age of 18 (he is now 43). We have been developing magic that can be appreciated purely by touch
over the last 7 years. After our performance I went round on a one-to-one basis and performed
tricks to the other Deafblind people in the audience. We were thanked for bringing magic back for them - which was an honour and
a pleasure
and we hope to appear at the next conference in Sweden in 2012. Video footage which was shown prior to our live performance can be seen
on
YouTube."
16.10.10
Magic Moments
in Nottinghamshire. "It was a Wizard's Tea Party for children at the Turner Hall,
Mansfield Woodhouse, Notts for Magic Moments Day 2010.
Freddie Wilkinson was on hand to do the magic and DJ Becky provided the
games and music. The day was organised by Yvette Price-Mear and managed
to raise £185 for The Pet Bereavement Support Group.
It was a great day and I would gladly support Magic Moments Day again next
year in whatever way I could." Freddie Wilkinson. (Photo
Yvette Price-Mear,
Freddie Wilkinson,
DJ
Becky).
16.10.10
Keith
Cooper MIMC. A Life in Magic. Next Tuesday, 19th October, The
Pentacle Club hosts an evening with Keith Cooper MIMC. The premier of 'A
Life in Magic' will see Keith talking about his life from his early days
as The Young Magician of the Year, through the international cabaret
years, up to the present in his latest role as President of the British
Ring of the International Brotherhood of Magicians. The interview will
be illustrated with pictures, film clips and Keith performing some of
his favourite effects. Visitors are welcome to what promises to be an
unmissable evening, starting at 8pm at St Laurences School, Arbury Road,
Cambridge, CB4 2JX (Map).
Alan Maskell.
16.10.10
German university makes objects disappear
in real time. Angelo Carbone emails: "Think of the magic
possibilities: making a screen vanish and having a person duck behind
the masked screen so the person appears to vanish. Having a padded box
made invisible that catches coins secretly dropped from the hand so
coins vanish cleanly, having cribs and gimmicks in plain view of
magician but invisible to camera. Selecting supports for levitations to
be invisible. So many..." Visit
www.engadget.com for the full story and a video demonstration.
16.10.10
Watford Association of Magicians Table
Top Sale Night, Tuesday October 19th. "This year we are going to
open the evening up to all magicians, members and non members. The
tables will range from hard to find books being sold by Terry Seabrooke
from his personal library to Julie Carpenter trying to find a caring
home for some magical items that she has been bequeathed. There should
be something for everyone. If you want to have a table, please contact
David Milne on
milnedg@googlemail.com. Once the table top sale has been concluded,
it is hoped that those with a table might do a trick. It could be
something they were selling, or just a bit of fun as a thank you for
having the table. There will be no charge to sellers or buyers. As usual
the start time is 8pm, but table top sellers may come earlier to set
up." Julie Carpenter. If you would like to attend email
juliecarpenter@themagiccircle.co.uk for venue details.
www.wamclub.co.uk.
16.10.10
International
News: World Champion Comedy Illusionists Scott & Muriel to Headline
in the 2011/12 production of New York’s Big Apple Circus. Scott &
Muriel, the Comedy Illusionists and 2000 FISM Grand Prix winners/World
Championships of Magic have signed a year-long contract with the
internationally renowned Big Apple Circus, New York’s hometown circus.
They will be the stars of what will be 34th production of this very
popular show. The 50 week tour will begin in September, 2011, and end in
July, 2012. Among the cities included in the annual tour are: Boston,
Atlanta, Washington D.C., and a 3 month run in New York City. In
addition to their extensive repertoire of original illusions, Scott &
Muriel are busy creating a number of new, never-seen-before illusions
especially for their appearance in the Big Apple Circus. They are
keeping the plots and secrets of these new illusions under wraps, but
they include a new teleportation effect and a spectacular new ending to
the burned shoe act. Scott & Muriel will be the first illusionists ever
to star in the Big Apple Circus, and the addition of this amazing
husband and wife team will surely make 34th season of this beloved
circus one of the best ever.
www.scottandmuriel.com.
16.10.10
Scry.
Peter Dove emails: "I have just released a new effect called 'Scry' at
www.paranormalentertainer.com The Effect: Scrying is used by
magicians, psychics and occultists as a tool to see into the past or the
future to divine information or reach the other side. It is used as a
focus tool in the same way as a crystal ball. Imagine being able to hand
your spectator the mirror after tutoring them in the ways of scrying and
shortly after the surface of the mirror begins to swirl and change and
they see an image of a freely selected, but as yet unknown, card lying
on the table. Imagine them seeing a moving image of a face speaking to
them from the other side... This can be used for séances, card reveals,
predictions and much more. Instant reset, multiple reveals."
16.10.10
Harry
Hill, no doubt pondering, "now what do I really prefer... a fine
dining and a chat with my show biz buddies, or close-up magic tricks?"
Only one way one way to find out..! Stephen Barry provided the magic and
the Dorchester the dinner, to celebrate Ronnie Corbett's 80th Birthday
last week
www.stephenbarry.co.uk.
16.10.10
Uncle
Harry's Haunted House... When Uncle Harry died, he left everything to his nephew Chubbz, but
forgot to mention that the
house was haunted... A Spooktacurlar show for Halloween, suitable for all
the family. Tuesday 26th October at the Elgin Hotel, Blackpool from 8pm
- 9pm.
16.10.10
Theo’s
Magic Sunflower Competition. Theo the Magician has announced the
results of his fund raising competition, which raised a total of £2,160
for the Neonatal Unit at St Helier Hospital and The Royal Marsden, both
in Carshalton Surrey. Visit
www.magictheo.com for details.
16.10.10
Magic
and Cinema. There's a strong link between magic and cinema dating
back over 100 years. In fact some of the earliest examples of cinema
employed trick photography as soon as it was realised that film could
accomplish what live theatre couldn't.
The Making of Star Wars: The Definitive Story Behind the Original Film
and the just published
Making of the "Empire Strikes Back: The Definitive Story Behind the Film
both present remarkable behind the scenes accounts of the making of both
movies. If you are into Star Wars make sure your order the hardback
editions though, as the paper back versions will be stripped of hundreds
of images (DT).
16.10.10
Matthew Garrett lectured at The Coventry Magic Circle on Wednesday 13th October and in Quito, Ecuador on Thursday 14th October. This week in Bogota, Colombia he'll be lecturing and performing stage magic, all in Spanish. 16.10.10
Chris Philpott emails: "I'm looking for anyone who knows anything about The Magic Box on the Isle of Wight. Anything at all whether you can tell me a story, what the interior was like, any photos, the history of it etc., etc. Has anyone got any thing from there, e.g. interior-wise other than props? Does anyone have the contact for Eve Edwards as I'm looking into the history of the shop. Please contact me on 01983 852555. Many thanks Chris Philpott." 16.10.10
"...and the Sheffield teenager who
gave Houdini his greatest trick"
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer (from 19.35) • Paul Daniels appears at
The Comedy Store, Manchester on Monday night
www.thecomedystore.co.uk • "Magicians turn out for Metro Magic
Convention in Lyndhurst"
Click Here • "Magician to the stars talks about desire for
fame"
Click Here • "Re-formed Cumbrian Magic Circle membership grows"
Click Here • "Win Tickets to see Pete Firman at Bloomsbury
Theatre"
Click Here • "My supporters are magic, says Paul"
Click Here • "Comedy at the cutting edge"
Click Here • Paul Bromley reviews Paul Abbey's recent lecture
at the South Downs Magicians on Escapology and the History of Handcuffs
this week,
Click Here • Owen Clark - A Genius Forgotten is reviewed by Ray
Roberts,
Click Here • ‘Above and Beyond Cold Reading’ - A workshop by
Paul Bell is reviewed by Jon Holt,
Click Here • Your UK news is always welcomed, see you next
week, Duncan.
16.10.10