|
|
Paul Hallas Lecture
Pentacle Club
July 2004
Reported by Simon Shaw
I was lucky enough to see Paul Hallas lecture at the Cambridge Pentacle Club the
other night (6/7/2004), and it was a real treat. This was Paul's penultimate
lecture in the UK before he disappears off to the United States, and so I feel
very privileged to have seen it. I have seen many lectures in the last few years
and I can quite honestly say that this was one of the best.
Paul started by describing himself not as a magician, or mentalist but rather as
an Alternative Psychological Entertainer. What a great line. Immediately we knew
that we were in for an evening of humour, magic and mystery.
It was abundantly clear from the outset that Paul Hallas is a very polished and
experience performer. In some ways he reminded me a little bit of Richard
Osterlind in that he has a very relaxed persona. However, by saying that I would
not be doing him justice if I didn't add that he has a great style all of his
own. Maybe it's the soothing Yorkshire accent, or the enigmatic smile that makes
you never quite sure whether he is being serious or not, but either way he is a
very entertaining fellow.
The entire lecture was jam packed with little gems and subtleties that made the
world of the difference. Even if he hadn't explained any of his effects there
was much to be learnt just by listening to the patter and watching his
presentation. Added to all this, his knowledge of the origin of the various
effects, moves, counts etc. was astonishing, and just highlighted how much of an
expert he really is in the Magic Community.
At the break Paul spent most of his time demonstrating packet tricks, which
should really come as no surprise as many will know that he has written a book
called "Small but Deadly", which is perhaps the definitive bible on packet
tricks. Sadly this book is out of print at the moment (BooHoo), but happily it
will soon be republished by H&R Books in Humble Texas (WooHoo!).
Incidentally I
managed to find a copy from “Magic Books By Post”, so if you look they are still
available.
I won't describe all the effects Paul did as I feel that that would indicate
that the lecture was little more than a series of routines and explanations, and
in reality it was so much more than that. However, here are a few of my
favourites just so you get a flavour of the evening.
Hunger Revisited
A velvet bag containing a prediction is laid out on the table. A deck of 50
numbered cards are shown, and the backs are shown to demonstrate that on the
back of each one is written the name of a different item of food. A number is
selected by a spectator and the item on the back of the relevant card is found
to be in the bag.
The method many will recognise just from the description, however for me that
wasn't important. It was the presentation of this effect that made it so special
for me, and although it was something I haven't used in the past, it will be
something that I will be using in the future.
Forty Three
Two spectators are asked to help. The first cuts about a third off of the deck
and places the pile in front of him. The second then cuts the remaining pile.
The second spectator's cards have been cut from the middle of the deck, and so
all has been very fair. The second spectator peeks the top card, remembers it
and then shuffles his portion of the deck.
The magician then asks that the first spectator shuffles his packet of cards
too.
When the second spectator is happy with the shuffle, he is asked to peek the top
card. The deck is reassembled and the magician proceeds to try and divine the
two selected cards.
The first spectator's card causes a problem, but after a little by play the
second spectator's card is determined.
Back to spectator number one. Again the magician tries to read the card, and
again can't quite see it, so he suggests finding it with another method. He
holds his hands over the top of the deck and concentrates on the energy that
rises up from the cards. He then looks the spectator squarely in the eyes and
says with confidence the exact position in the deck of the spectators card.
The cards are counted out and sure enough the card is exactly where it was
suggested.
I really loved this effect, apart from anything else it was so self working that
all you really need to do is to concentrate on the patter. The presentation
though is important and really made this effect stand out for me.
The 50/50 opener
A spectator takes a coin and flips it in the air. The magician clearly
demonstrates that he predicted correctly whether it was heads or tails.
Doesn't sound much does it? but it was so much more than just that. Let me
explain. Firstly the workings of the prediction was explained, and Paul showed
how the principle could easily be adapted to work in many different effects.
However, with that being said, I liked it very much for exactly what it is. A
very simple 50/50 chance prediction. As the title suggest used in this way it
works brilliant as an opener for a short mentalism act. Just imagine, you start
off my predicting the flip of a coin. A 50/50 chance. You then move on to
demonstrate a slightly more complex prediction. Maybe a one in 5 chance of
guessing a selected ESP card ("Especially Wild" for example) or a 1 in 6 chance
on guessing the side of a die ("Die Cipher2" for example). And then finally the
ultimate, a 1 in 52 chance of guessing a thought of card (too many examples to
choose from, but if nothing else, an invisible deck works well).
So for me the 50/50 opener is brilliant. The principle is just an added bonus.
Battle of the Sexes
This was perhaps my favourite effect of the evening, and frankly I am not even
going to describe the effect here as it is too good to share with anyone. I want
to be the only person that performs this, so shame on you Paul for including it
in your lecture notes. Please in future just let me know about these gems in
private! Thank you
The Bottom Line
It's a sad loss for British Magic that Paul won't be giving so many lectures in
the UK. Hopefully he will still fly back for the odd one though, and if you get
a chance, don't even think twice about it.
And finally I would like to mention that at one point Paul gave his
interpretation of "twisting the Aces", demonstrating how powerful this routine
can actually be. I have seen "Twisting the Aces" performed numerous times
before, often in such away that it just makes the magician appear to be showing
off. When Paul Hallas does it he is demonstrating magic.
Pure and Simple.
See more about the Magic of Paul Hallas at his website,
www.ph-marketing.co.uk
© Simon Shaw, July 2004
www.ipswichmagicalsociety.co.uk