Number 247 - 19th March 2005
Many Congratulations
to the Dobsons! Wayne and Marianne married in the grounds of the
Wyndham Palace Resort & Spa, Orlando, Florida on March 7th. I'm sure
MagicWeek readers everywhere will join me in wishing the couple every happiness for
the future. 19.3.05
Ten
"Magic!" Presentation Packs will be dropping through the letter boxes
of the following MagicWeek readers on Monday morning, as if by magic...
Alan Alexander (Cheshire), Paul Clancy (Essex), John Eggleton (Isle of
Wight), Roy Farmer (West Midlands), James Hodgkiss (Bolton), Jason Murphy
(Manchester), Alec Powell (West Bromwich), Katherine Rhodes (London), Mark
Smith (Leeds), and Stan Twigge (Staffordshire). Thanks to
everyone who sent in their details for the draw - we were inundated with
entries. If it's any consolation to everyone else, I haven't got one
either yet, but they can still be ordered from
the Royal Mail online,
Click Here or bought over the counter at a Post Office. The Packs have been beautifully produced. 19.3.05
Mirrored
Images - the baffling mind illusions of Ivor Cole plays at the
New Players Theatre, The Arches, Villiers Street, London WC2 on Sunday
April 10th. A truly magical evening with guest magician Jon Allen.
Reception with wine, soft drinks and canapés at 6.30pm, show commences at
7.30pm. All proceeds go to the Head and Neck Cancer Research Trust.
Tickets are £40.00 each (cheques payable to "Head & Neck Cancer Research
Trust") from Joy Walsh, Head & Neck Unit, Royal Marsden Hospital, Fulham
Road, London SW3 6JJ. Telephone: 020 7808 2209. 19.3.05
magicseen,
the new bi-monthly full colour glossy magazine launched last month has received praise from its
readers far and wide. The UK has never
produced a magazine of this quality before and the magicseen team
consisting of, Editor Mark Leveridge, Deputy Editor Graham Hey,
Design/Editor Phil Shaw and Advertising Manager Peter Salter, are
committed to supplying a top quality, entertaining read "that will appeal
to magicians right across the board." Although magicseen will have a
certain UK bias, the team will be scouring the wider magic world for news,
articles and items of interest. Following the magazine's successful launch
at the Blackpool Convention in February, large numbers of magicians have
already subscribed. For more information, and secure online subscribing,
visit
www.magicseen.co.uk today! 19.3.05
Ron
and Nancy Spencer's Telepathy Personified is reviewed by Peter Zenner
this week. "...Ron and Nancy Spencer's book 'Telepathy Personified' has
now made its grand entrance. Martin Breese has done them proud and I must
confess that my first word on opening this package was 'WOW'!"
Click Here
to read the full review. Available from
www.martinbreese.com. 19.3.05
Congratulations
to Steve Lobley, winner of the Surrey Society of Magicians Close-Up
Competition last week. The competition, judged by two laymen and magic
judge Tim Shoesmith, was seen by an audience of 65. 12 competitors took
part, and this is the second time that Steve has won, the first being in
1997. Gordon Drayson came second and Theo Theodoris 3rd.
www.surreymagic.org. 19.3.05
"Peter Kay ruined our magic trick"
Click Here to read the full story. "I couldn't believe my eyes when I looked up and saw half
the audience watching us through a gap in the curtain" said Jayne of
Safire. In the end all went well and their illusion spot was well
received by the audience of 3000. The couple are currently touring with
BBC's Chuckle Brothers Theatre tour until the beginning of September. The
production is loosely based on Pirates of the Caribbean. Not only do
the couple perform their Illusions and UV puppet act, but they also play parts
with Paul and Barry in the comedy sketches, with Stuart taking part in a spectacular sword fight
sequence! 19.3.05
Film
maker Peter Shatalow has produced 'Street Theatre' a DVD spotlighting
some of the world's best street performers. A five minute clip can be seen
here
www.shatalow.com and the 100 minute NTSC DVD can be ordered online via
PayPal. For anyone contemplating street performing I am sure that this
disc would be of great interest. 19.3.05
The
city of Utrecht in the Netherlands has honoured three-time FISM World
Champion of Magic Fred Kaps, who died 25 years ago, with a commemorative
plaque and stone. Alderman Jan van Zanen, who originally put forward the
idea, unveiled the plaque (situated in front of Peltlaan 79, where Fred
Kaps lived from 1961 to 1980), on March 9th.
www.fredkapsdvd.com
www.fredkaps.com. 19.3.05
Leicester
Magic Circle are holding their annual President's Night on Saturday
30th April at 7:30pm at Parklands Leisure Centre in Oadby. "Each year the
magic club put on an incredible evening which is one of few events open to
the general public. Close-up magicians will be performing at the tables
throughout the evening while a buffet meal is being enjoyed. The evening
will conclude with a cabaret show featuring international illusionist
Chris North and Belinda and the hilarious Ken Wood. This year we are
raising funds for Rainbows but numbers are limited, so get your ticket
early!" Tickets are £15 (smart dress). Contact the Circle Secretary Barry
Martin on 01509 843066. 19.3.05
Lee
Alex is about to sign a contract with German magician and quick change
artist Sven Schoppenhauer to translate Sven's book Quickchange into
the English language. Website visitors can submit their details now, to
take advantage of a special pre-publication price,
Click Here for more details. 19.3.05
Congratulations
to Paul Dewhurst and Miranda Keeling, winners of the London Society of
Magicians stage magic competition, (Bridger Lewis Trophy), for the second
year running. Performing for a packed clubroom at Davenports of Charing
Cross, Paul's entry featured highlights from his new cabaret and walkabout
show 'Experiments in Psychic Philosophy and Other Peculiar Feats',
developed with on and off stage partner, Miranda Keeling. This unusual
atmospheric show takes its inspiration from mediumship of the 1800's and
Vaudeville. Contact:
dewhurstpaul@juggler.net. 19.3.05
International
News: MARS (Magic at the Red Sea) is the title of a new convention
being organised by Roei Zaltsman in Eilat, Israel, between September 25th
- 28th, 2005. Booked to date: Max Maven, Flip Hallema, Duane Laflin, Pit
Hartling, Charles Brook, Anthony Darkstone and Menny Lindenfeld. This
convention includes: Three nights at the Hilton Queen of Sheba hotel, a
banquet dinner, seven lectures, two stage shows, two competitions, late
night bar magic, a visit to the Eilat underwater observatory featuring a
family magic show and never-seen magic stunts and a magical cruise at
sunset back to the hotel. 500 registrations are expected. For more details
visit: www.mars.org.il. 19.3.05
The
Magic Circle - New Editorial Team announced. The Magic Circle is
pleased to announce that a new team for The Magic Circular has been
appointed. Following the recent tragic death of Peter McCahon and the
temporary editorship of Peter Eldin, the new Editor of The Magic Circular,
is Matthew Field, an American member now living permanently in London.
Matthew has many years experience in magical journalism, having edited
over 65 magic books and written a column for Genii from 2000 to 2004. He
also has extensive experience in broadcast management, publishing,
advertising, marketing and PR. Matthew will be working closely with
independent magazine designer John Hawkins and the new team will be
producing issues from June 2005 onwards. 19.3.05
Dr
Richard Wiseman presents his séance show at the Edinburgh
International Science Festival for five nights (April 4th - 8th). The hour
long show explores the psychology of suggestion and involves a
reconstruction of a Victorian dark room séance. The show is being staged
in Mary Kings Close - an underground plague street that has a reputation
for being haunted by the ghost of a young child. Richard commented "I will
be performing some new dark séance effects and, if the ghost of the child
makes an appearance, hipperty hop rabbits." For more information
Click Here. 19.3.05
Dr Wiseman has also just had a paper published in the British Journal of Psychology about the psychology of suggestion and the psychokinetic after effect, showing that about 40% of people still thought that a bent key was still bending when it had been placed on a table, simply because the performer suggested that this was the case. Interestingly, the work shows that people who thought that the key was bending were less likely than others to report the performers suggestions, thus giving rise to some impressive but incorrect testimony (ie "he just placed the key on the table and it continued to bend"). The paper has had some media attention, including a piece in The Times, Click Here. 19.3.05
The Pentacle Club's Annual Dinner takes place on Saturday 14th May at Girton College, Cambridge. Tickets are £25 for a three course meal (choice of courses and vegetarian option) and cabaret. For details Click Here. 19.3.05
The Peterborough Society of Magicians invite magicians to their 17th Annual Sale and Exchange and Lecture Day on Sunday 24th April at the Milfield Community Centre, Lincoln Road, Peterborough. 10am-5pm. Admission £9 (£10 on door) £4.50 concessions. Refreshments available. Free parking. With lectures by Sean Carpenter and Poz and workshops with Al Smith. "Come and enjoy a magical day out, meet old friends, make new ones and sell off those surplus props. Table space is limited so book early. No tables on the day." Telephone Keith Downs 01778 343167 for more details. 19.3.05
Vanni Pule` remembers Willis Hall. Willis Hall of Yorkshire passed away on the 7th March 2005. He was a very talented writer having his successful play "The Long & the Short and the Tall" presented in the West End and studied by students all over the world. But besides being a writer he was also a magical enthusiast. He entertained with conjuring when he was young but eventually, because of literary commitments, had to settle for performing close-up tricks, collecting magic books and relaxing with friends in magic, among whom I happened to be one of the lucky few. He was also a member of many magical societies, among them the British Ring of the IBM and the Ring 202 of Malta in which island he had his second home. His writing career took him to Hollywood and he collaborated with Keith Waterhouse in many ventures like 'Billy Liar', 'Worzel Gummidge' and 'Lost Empires'. Notwithstanding his talents he was a modest, unassuming and generous friend with a genuine love of magic and magicians and playful jollity that endeared him to all those who knew him. He shall be sorely missed by his wife Val, his son James, also a TV writer and a magic lover, by his other sons Macer and Daniel and all those who were fortunate enough to know him. 19.3.05
Simon
Taylor's 'Factory Packed' is now back in stock after selling out at
Blackpool. To order, and for dealer enquiries, email
factorypacked@illusioncraft.co.uk • Derren Brown -
Trick of the Mind DVD, pre-order from Amazon.co.uk with 25% off for 18th
April release:
Click Here • Magician accused of stealing godly power,
Click Here • Magic stamps just the trick for centenary,
Click Here • Students excel at the college of magic,
Click Here • Your UK magic news is always welcomed, see you next week,
Duncan. 19.3.05