Number 111 - 10th August 2002
Copperfield
Exposed - The latest Masked Magician show to go out all over Japan
exposed a crude demonstration of Splitting Image (photo), the
visible laser cutting
in half seen on Copperfield's last special, broadcast in the States last
year, together with an equally crude variation of Copperfield's Flying
(featuring the Masked Magician "flying" around the Tokyo Tower). The three
hour show took the format of a "game show" with a panel of eight Japanese
TV personalities witnessing each routine and then trying to work it all
out, discussing the possibilities before being given the explanation.
The show also featured Japan's leading magicians exposing magic as well: The Napoleons and Princess Tenko. The Napoleons are Japan's answer to Penn & Teller and are well known throughout the country (perhaps past exposures by Penn & Teller "legitimised" things in the eyes of The Napoleons?). Princess Tenko, who constantly performs all over Japan, is also an established "star." These performers already enjoy considerable television coverage in Japan - quite why they chose to become involved in this show I don't know. What makes the whole thing even more bizarre is that every so often a trick was performed without explanation... it just didn't make sense in the middle of an "exposure" show - on one occasion Princess Tenko performed an item that the Masked Magician had exposed minutes earlier, but she performed it without exposure!
Exposed: Teleportation of a person (MM), Levitation (MM), crude version of Copperfield's "Flying" (MM), Water to Ice Cube (MM), Classic Shadow Cabinet (MM), Radio Vanish (MM), Silks in Tube Vanish (MM), Harbin's Zig-Zag (MM), two alternative Zig-Zags (MM), Flying Carpet (TN), a crude version of Franz Harary's "Slicer" (MM), Copperfield's "Splitting Image" (exposed through bad performance as opposed to offering an explanation - MM), ridiculous "violin quartet" vanish (PT), break-away box dove vanish (MM), Solid Through Solid illusion (TN), Two Girl Crusher (classic version - MM), Vanish of Tokyo Tower - in fact they didn't use the method that they later exposed as it simply wouldn't have worked... they'd got it wrong and the vanish was actually done in post production... but they did keep that a secret! What they explained was the method used in Lance Burton's Elephant illusion essentially (TN).
Ultimately all that was exposed I guess was the naivety of the performers themselves. Shame on them. 10.8.02
Here's
more information re. Steve Cohen's up-coming Chamber Magic: A Demonstration of Modern Conjuring show. Straight from
his sell-out run at New York's celebrated Waldorf-Astoria comes Gotham's
hottest magician. The legendary Steve Cohen is bringing his exhilarating
Chamber Magic show to London's Langham Hilton for a limited run... Cohen
has enthralled, tantalized and teased New Yorkers for a staggering 18
months with Chamber Magic. Devotees include New York Mayor Michael
Bloomberg, Michael J Fox, Martha Stewart, the Rockefellers, Carl Sagan and
many more. Sophisticated, imaginative and mind-boggling, Chamber Magic
pays homage to the salons of 19th century Europe, where wealthy patrons
would hire magicians to entertain their guests. In the intimate and
luxurious setting of the Langham Hilton's King's Room Cohen will baffle,
mystify and stun his audiences. You can experience the magic of Steve Cohen at London's Langham Hilton
from October 2nd to the 19th, Wednesday to Saturday nights inclusive, two
shows per night: 8pm and 10pm. Tickets are £40 per head and seating is
limited so reservations are essential - telephone 020 7973 7503 from
August 15th. Visit www.customagic.com
for more information. The Langham Hilton is offering audience members the
following magic deals: enjoy a two-course dinner with coffee in the
renowned Memories Restaurant for the special price of £25 per person or
give your evening a Russian flavour at the exotic Tzar's Bar where you can
have a Russian vodka of your choice, and a zaskuski (Russian appetizer)
for only £8.00 per person. 10.8.02
John
Derris makes a rare appearance at The Wolverhampton Circle of
Magicians on Wednesday 18th September when he will be giving a
lecture/presentation entitled Odds and Sorcery, featuring close-up, mental
and stage magic guaranteed to include something for everyone whatever
their interest. The lecture takes place at The Connaught Hotel, Tettenhall
Road, Wolverhampton and commences at 7.30pm. Tickets for non-members are
available (they must be bona fide members of another magic society) at
£5.00. Tickets and more information from Secretary J. Bryan Atherton,
telephone: 01902 896593. 10.8.02
International
News: Joaquin Ayala is one of the performers lined up to appear at the
14th International Magic Convention to be staged at the Europa Convention
Center, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain from September 19th to the 22nd. Also
lecturing and performing England's Richard McDougall - the
convention website has full details of all the performers and hotel
information:
Click Here 10.8.02
Etienne Pradier
is off to the States next year to perform at The Magic Castle in LA and at
the World Magic Seminar in Las Vegas. Etienne was recently booked to
perform at a party for Prince Charles and Camilla Parker-Bowles at a Polo
Match - that engagement lead on to another Royal engagement this time for
the Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh, and other dignitaries. 10.8.02
Andrew
Van Buren was invited to represent the World of Magic as part of the
huge opening celebrations for the Commonwealth Games in Manchester. The
Van Buren team presented an Illusion Spectacular to the crowds as they
waited for the Commonwealth Baton arrival. Radio interviewers afterwards
picked up on "Van Buren's Vanishing Motorbike & Rider." One radio
presenter from BBC Manchester commented "We've seen the masked magician
explain how these things are done with mirrors and smoke, hiding things as
they slip away, but I was at the back and saw it with my own eyes, the
lady and the motorbike just vanished!" 10.8.02
Street
performing is about to be legalised in Tokyo, Japan for the very first
time. Nine "judges" are deciding who will be awarded permits from the 650
performers who applied. Up until now street performers have had to deal
with the police and even the Yakuza, making their chosen line of work very
precarious. The project, named "Heaven Artist," will open up a dozen or so
pitches, on designated days, and licenses will be issued in September and
run for a year. Whether any provision will be made for visiting performers
isn't clear. The only time that I've ever "passed the hat" in Japan was at
the Daidogei World Cup Street Performers Festival in Shizuoka in '92 and
'93 (photo) when the whole event was managed.
10.8.02
Paul Gordon lectures at The Winchester Magic Society on Thursday 5th September presenting an evening of "doable/usable" professional card magic taken from his books and live repertoire. The lecture features easy to "semi-advanced" entertaining and powerful card magic. Email Paul: natzler@btinternet.com or contact secretary Ian Kirk (023 8026 9872) for more information. Visit www.natzler.com for lecture reviews and more UK dates. 10.8.02
Marc Salem's Mind Games is on in Edinburgh right now
Click Here for booking details • A new feature on Martin Breese's website is the publication every
week of a new trick, routine or effect by David Britland. Each trick stays
online for just one week and is then replaced with a new item. Visit:
www.abracadabra.co.uk • It Shouldn't Happen to a... TV
Performer (repeat) tonight at 8pm on ITV reveals what happens when
things go wrong - including some magic clips • I've just returned from a short trip to Japan,
hence the Japanese news this week... I wasn't on the lookout for magic but
did see a tape of the Masked Magician show reported above, the third one
that has been produced for the Japanese market I think. Toys 'R' Us in
Matsumoto had a good stock of Tenyo magic (photo) complete with video
demonstrations and a number of shoppers were watching but there were no
sales. What struck me was that all the tricks were being demonstrated on
the video by
"professional magicians" - it would have been far more convincing if the
tricks had been performed by, say, a ten year old. I
remember when I bought my first Svengali deck as an eight year old
doubting that I'd really be able to duplicate the tricks that I'd just
seen performed • Well, that's it for this week, we had a break from taking For Sale
and
Wanted ads
but you are welcome to submit them again now. Your magic news is always
welcomed, see you next week, Duncan. 10.8.02