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Van Buren’s Abracadabra - Magic
Around The World
Blackpool Tower Circus
Assorted days April till 2nd November 2007
Reviewed by Stan Twigg
Occasionally
in the UK you get the opportunity to see a good magic and illusion act, but
rarely do you get to see a full illusion show, even rarer do you see a full
production illusion show with a large company of performers weaved into the
shows theme and story line. Add to that the fact that the entire show is
performed completely surrounded by the audience in the circus ring of Blackpool
Tower and you have something of a very unique experience.
The Van Buren family have teamed up with Hungarian impresario and circus
producer Laci Endresz to present Van Buren’s Abracadabra – “Magic Around The
World” illusion spectacular in the World famous Blackpool Tower Circus on select
dates every week from mid April until 2nd November.
The beautiful and baffling illusions were built and created by illusionist Fred
Van Buren who has now retired from performing but still runs Van Buren Studios
where effects were created and built especially for this production, all themed
and decorated to the various countries ports of call that the show takes you to.
Opening the show is a traditional dance routine gracefully performed by six
glamorous showgirls and the shows host Bubu Endresz. This leads to the fast
appearance of master illusionist Andrew Van Buren who in turn within seconds has
turned a ball of fire into flowers into his head assistant Allyson, who then
assists Andrew in magically producing a ring filling huge silk streamer out of
which is produced three stacked goldfish bowls full of water and fish. Within a
blink of an eye they have taken their applause and gone. This sets the tempo for
the rest of the show, no padding, no wasted time, all meat and at speed.
Bubu Endresz returns wearing a Bavarian Lederhosen costume to explain the shows
concept, a journey around the world presenting magic and illusions from each
port of call. The dancers in Tyrolean costumes return joined by part of the male
contingent of the show company, plus a St Bernard dog character for the Bavarian
Austrian scene. The music turns into traditional Bavarian, Beer glasses are
clinked, thighs are slapped, Bubu Endresz plays the Clarinet and then Andrew Van
Buren returns wearing Lederhosen to perform a juggling routine with Bubu,
leading into the Through the Eye of a Needle illusion with two real large beer
barrels. After this two of the male assistants and one of the female performers
take on the roll of the Romanian Trio Stoian presenting a very good spring board
act still retaining the Bavarian theme.
From Bavaria we next fly to Arabia and Egypt, again the music and all costumes
change to suit the scene, the harem dancers present the appearance of Sheik Van
Buren who magically transforms sand into large bouquets of flowers, performs a
levitation of Allyson and then presents the most baffling presentation of The
Disembodied Princess illusion where the girls middle completely disappears, in
the past only able to be performed on stage, but here this incredibly small slim
sarcophagus box is performed in the very centre of the circus ring.
America is the next stop with a punk street dance scene followed by American
police officer Van Buren making the punks ghetto blaster disappear, punk
punishment with Van Buren’s Fluorescent Light Tubes penetration and then Van
Buren’s famous Vanishing Motorbike and Rider illusion closes the first half of
the show, disappearing from the centre of the circus ring.
The audience around me during the interval were full of very positive comments
and speculation as to how was it done.
The second half opened with a very stylish Strauss Viennese waltz by some of the
cast, powdered wigs, crinoline dresses, chandeliers all create a beautiful
setting gently easing everybody back into the show. Show compere Bubu Endresz
shows off his musical talents this time playing the violin, then Lord Van Buren
returns to create his assistant from an empty crinoline dress, float a lit
candle all around and right across the circus ring and then produce a number of
goldfish bowls, glasses and bottles of wine from an empty ornate casket.
Bubu then presents his own comedy spot involving three audience volunteers who
are each given a different funny voice. This routine was originated by
ventriloquist Dennis Spicer in the early 1960’s and can now be seen performed in
various styles and versions notably by Nicolodi on the continent and Wayne
Dobson in the UK.
Next the mysterious Orient, so much happened in this scene at pace that it is
almost impossible to recall it all. Oriental magician Van Buren made things
vanish, girls appeared, were dissected, Bubu perforated by twenty odd spears,
then Allyson vanished from one box reappearing from another in full view on the
other side of the circus ring, drawing gasps from the audience. A Chinese lion
dance followed with two traditional lion skins presented by the Zigong Acrobatic
Troupe.
Then speedily on to a tribute to Hungarian Escapologist Harry Houdini again
presented by Andrew Van Buren and Allyson with the aid of skillfully handled
audience volunteers.
Then the ring filled with the entire cast, only now do you realise how big the
company is, I counted 24, for the finale “From the Blackpool Tower to the Eiffel
Tower”, a fast spirited Can Can dance lead into The Russian Bukovina Troupe
performing a high speed skipping routine, then the return of Master illusionist
Andrew Van Buren who magically produced Parasols, silk streamers and bouquets of
flowers for the dancers. This very rousing finish to the show had the audience
cheering and clapping in time with each other and the music.
Afterwards the audience comments were all very positive, teenagers called it
cool and confusing, the older generations I heard comment that it was very
entertaining, which is what its all about at the end of the day.
This show is large and ambitious, the cast hard working and it fly’s the flag
for British magic better than I have seen it flown in years and all involved
pull off a slick, stylish, colourful and well dressed entertaining show.
The Endresz and Van Buren families must be congratulated on this wonderful
production, which is a must see for anybody interested in magic and seeing a
lesson in presentation and showmanship.
© Stan Twigg, October 2007