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David Croucher Lecture
South Downs Magicians
June 2024
Reviewed by Paul Sturgess
David Croucher's lecture attracted a very good turnout for what turned out to be
a great evening of diverse "working magician" magic. David promised us an
evening of Magical Entertainment and he certainly delivered. The newly-crowned
Sussex Magic Circle’s Close-up Magician for 2024 let us into the secret of how
he keeps constantly working, and the ups and downs of life as a busy
professional magician, illustrated with a whole host of effects.
David’s ethics and skills are deeply rooted in traditional magic tricks, and he
started with his Vanishing Silks performance accompanied by his own brand of
"Oompa Loompa" music.
He narrated how he first got into magic and how our own Des King mentored his
early days and how he was influenced by the magical effects of Pat Page. This
led David into a demonstration of his famous Torn & Restored Newspaper
"illusion", as well as an insight into the method David uses and why he chose
that method for maximum effect.
The Mutilated Umbrella and "alternative" Change Bag completed the first half of
David’s lecture.
After a short break, during which David discussed methods with members, he
commenced the second half of the evening with the very slickest of Retention
Vanish routines along with the 2-Headed Prediction and with his own unique
version of My Grandfather’s Top Hat.
A hugely entertaining Tricks section followed, and he kept us laughing with a
variety of "tricks for kids" that included a simple but very funny Sandwich Bag
and some Dye Tube tricks amongst many from his Kids’ Workshop.
David ended the evening with a Silk in Balloon routine and then encored with a
slick rendition of Mark Oberon’s Master Deck.
A great evening was had by all, and I’m sure we all took away new ideas to try
out in the coming weeks.
© Paul Sturgess, President, South Downs Magicians, June 2024