Number 358 - 5th May 2007
Kooza
tells the story of The Innocent, a melancholy loner in search of his place
in the world. A return to the origins of Cirque du Soleil, Kooza combines
two circus traditions – acrobatic performance and the art of clowning. The
show highlights the physical demands of human performance in all its
splendor and fragility, presented in a colorful mélange that emphasizes
bold slapstick humor. Between strength and fragility, laughter and smiles,
turmoil and harmony, Kooza explores themes of fear, identity, recognition
and power. The show is set in an electrifying and exotic visual world full
of surprises, thrills, chills, audacity and total involvement. The Kooza
North American Tour starts on July 5th and will come to the Albert Hall in
a couple of years. British illusion consultant Scott Penrose has been
working behind the scenes introducing magic, illusions and quick change
effects to the production. This is the first time that a Cirque production
has featured magic.
www.cirquedusoleil.com
www.stagemagician.com.
5.5.07
Magic
Man John Archer is Tim Vine's special guest "Live in Concert" at 8pm
on Sunday May 13th at the Shepherds Bush Empire, London. Visit
www.shepherds-bush-empire.co.uk for details and to book.
www.john-archer.com.
5.5.07
11th Top Secret Magic Day
-
Sunday 3rd June. The Bedford Corn Exchange, St Pauls Square, Bedford MK40
1SL.
Map. Gary Young reports that tickets are selling extremely well this
year with over 60% having gone already - book now to be safe! Starring:
Aldo Colombini, Nicholas Einhorn, Mandy Muden (photo), Paul Gordon, Terry Seabrooke, Zane, Martyn James & Company and
top of the bill Paul Daniels, plus magic dealers, the Top Secret Café, and more. Visit
www.topsecretmagicday.co.uk for more information and to book.
5.5.07
Derren
Brown, Mind Reader - An Evening of Wonders is reviewed by Mark Elsdon
this week. "As we have come to expect from Derren (and his cohort Mr
Nyman) there are many moments of genius which will have you chuckling in
appreciation and wishing that just once, you too could be that clever. The
highlight is the absolute best magician-in-trouble type routine that you
will ever see. Yes, it’s that good..."
Click Here to read the
full review.
5.5.07
Quirkology
looks at all of the strange psychology experiments that Professor Richard
Wiseman of the Psychology Department at the University of Hertfordshire
has carried out over the years, including the fake séance work with Andy
Nyman and studies into the psychology of deception.
www.quirkology.com.
Richard has produced a couple of You Tube clips to go with it, and they
are both well worth watching,
Click Here.
5.5.07
Big
Blind Media is a brand new magic media company producing the very best
in instructional magic DVDs. "Formed by Owen Packard and Dave Forrest
(after a collaboration on the acclaimed 'Trickery' DVD project), the
company ethos is to present the strongest, most innovative and most
workable magic around in the 21st century. Big Blind Media is dedicated to
combining the very best and most thrilling magic with high-end production
values and eye popping style. It's about creating DVD's that the magic
community can truly get excited about." Visit
www.bigblindmedia.com today!
5.5.07
Be
on TV and win a year's salary in just one day! TwoFour for Channel
Five email: "We're looking for contestants for a brand new BIG money quiz
show. Can you tell how much money someone makes just from their
appearance? Can someone tell how much money you make just by the way you
answer specific questions? If you have a job and want the chance to win
thousands of pounds – and even the chance to win as much as a year's
salary – we're looking for you now! All you need is to be over 18 and have
a full time job (we are keen to get some Children's Entertainers from all
over the country.)" For details telephone: 0844 4480 022 or email
quiz@twofour.co.uk.
www.twofourbroadcast.com.
5.5.07
Criss
Angel Mindfreak. 304 pages, hardcover, published by William Morrow,
July 12th 2007. Pre-order from Amazon.co.uk
Click Here. The blurb: "This work presents the behind the scenes of
the hit show. The most provocative mystifier in decades reveals secrets of
40 amazing illusions that fans can master. The star of the groundbreaking
hit television series 'Criss Angel Mindfreak' is considered to be the most
influential name in magic today. With a visionary approach and inventive
material, 'Mindfreak' explores the various illusions - 'mindfreaks' -
Angel performs each week, as well as his philosophy behind his approach to
life and his art. From 'Burned Alive' and 'Bullet Catch' to 'Building
Walk' and 'Levitation', Criss explains the mindset that makes each
demonstration successful, and reveals the unique, personal illusory twist
he adds to each one."
5.5.07
The
wait is finally over and the hottest DVD of the year is now available!
"Party Animal - starring Matthew J. Dowden is a two-disc set, jam-packed
with powerful, commercial material that you will use! Shot live on
location, there are no fake reactions or setups on this DVD! See Matthew
perform all the material live then join him in the studio where he takes
you step-by-step through all the work, moves and subtleties that make up
each routine!" See the video demo on the Alakazam website and order today!
www.alakazam.co.uk.
5.5.07
Paul
Brook presents 'Open to Influence' an evening of interpersonal
influence using mental dexterity, psychological control, deception and
suggestion. "During the show audience members will be selected at random
and Paul will attempt to control their thoughts and reactions. Paul has
been tipped as being the next rising star of in the field of psychological
illusion." 18th - 19th of October, Lyttleton Theatre, Birmingham. Tickets
£12 each (and bring a second person free!) Tickets are on sale now and are
only available from
www.paulbrook.co.uk.
5.5.07
Tom
Lyon and Drummond Money-Coutts entered top diplomatic circles a few
weeks ago, being booked to perform at the US Embassy in London for their
Easter celebrations; the pair have since been re-booked for Independence
Day at the Embassy in July - one of the city's most exclusive and
high-security events this summer! Tom and Drummond continue their two-man
show, "Formal Fantasies", raising thousands of pounds for African
charities, and last month took their show to Edinburgh for a Charity
evening, greasing the wheels to the evening's £70 000 total."
5.5.07
The
Tony Binarelli Lecture. 14th May 2007 "Do not miss this chance to see
Italy's top magician, you will not be disappointed." Venue: The Downtown
Magic Club, Park Street, Ashford, Kent. £5.00 for members £10 for guests
(members of other magic clubs always given a warm welcome and discounted
entry on production of membership card). Contact: Miki Travis for details:
mikitravis@ntlworld.com
telephone 01233620120
www.downtownmagicclub.co.uk
5.5.07
Marc
Spelmann and Collin Claus have just returned from Chicago where they
performed for Virgin Airlines. Over 800 VIP guests were their to celebrate
the first direct flight from Heathrow to Chicago since 9/11. The two are
due to fly out to Hong Kong next month for Microsoft and are planning on
wiping the hard drive on a computer located three miles away!
www.marcspelmann.co.uk
www.streetmagic.org.uk. Meanwhile, back home, Marc and Peter Nardi at
Inner Mind Productions will shortly be releasing two new DVDs: Christopher
Taylor's Outside The Conventional: Mind Reading with Meaning and
High Impact Volume One which is a self contained act on a DVD (props
and gimmicks included). More information soon.
5.5.07
Scott
Creasey presents his "Escape The Restraints of Reality" lecture at the
Middlesbrough Circle of Magicians on Monday 14th May. Members of other
Magic Clubs welcome (small cover charge). Contact the Secretary for
details:
edward.loughran@ntlworld.com.
5.5.07
Peter
McLanachan presents his “A Force Much Greater Than Luck” lecture on
card magic for the
Glasgow
Magic Circle President’s Night this Tuesday evening (8th May) at
7.30pm at Rutherglen United Reform Church, 69 Johnstone Drive, Rutherglen,
Glasgow. Peter presented a shortened lecture at last weekend's Scottish
Association of Magical Societies Convention in Montrose, however on
Tuesday, he will be he will be presenting it in full. Visiting magicians
are welcome and, as it is the President's Night, visitors will not be
charged an entry fee!
www.the-cardman.blogspot.com.
5.5.07
The
'Tricks at the Tryst' show at 7.30pm on May 12th at the Falkirk Lesser
Town Hall, Falkirk FK1 5RS (Map).
"A night of wonder and amazement" supplied by the local Forth Valley Magic
Circle. Comprising dedicated amateurs and seasoned professionals, the club
has been promoting the art of magic for the last three decades. Tickets
from the Falkirk Steeple Box Office or via
www.forthvalleymagic.co.uk.
5.5.07
The
Signed Card Strikes Back by Michael Vincent is reviewed by Graham
Nichols this week: "'The Signed Card Strikes Back' is a CD ROM which
combines both video technology, with which to view the performance of the
effect, together with electronic document PDF technology for viewing /
printing the manuscript. Full colour photos are also included, as you
would expect, and no stone is left unturned in the explanation department.
Indeed, the effect can be learned from either the video or the PDF file
alone. Having both available is a real treat..." To read the full review
Click Here.
5.5.07
Two
award-winning magicians are about to face their toughest challenge yet
- pulling the wool over the eyes of inmates at Craiginches Prison,
Aberdeen. "We'll maybe skip the escapology act - just this once," said
Allan Innes, "But if it's good enough for Johnny Cash it's good enough for
us." The date came after the Two Allans scored their biggest success to
date at the Scottish Association of Magical Societies annual convention.
During the event in Montrose last weekend they picked up the award for
best stage act, beating finalists from Glasgow, Edinburgh and Dundee,
together with their assistant, Susan Hilditch. It was the second time that
the Two Allans brought a trophy home to Aberdeen from the contest. Last
year they were awarded the prize for best children's entertainer.
5.5.07
Free magic book! Paul Gordon is offering readers of MagicWeek a free hardback card magic book (135 pages, 32 tricks) if they place an order for "Corner of Piccadilly" which can be seen demonstrated at www.paulgordon.net/magicvideodemos.htm - new video clips are being added to this section all the time. 5.5.07
It's been a busy week for standnotamazed, the theatre, cabaret and consultancy company run by magician John van der Put and movement director Lucy Cullingford. On Monday they launched the official cocktail of the 60th Cannes Film Festival 2007, the 'Cointreaupolitan Star' Martini, a drink that contains 24 carat culinary gold flakes. Thursday saw them at the launch of LG's first range of full HD televisions. John was on hand to show close-up magic in the VIP area, and presented a specially commissioned performance utilising LG's flagship 47" widescreen HD TV on the main stage, before Lily Allen closed the evening. 5.5.07
Smokin'
Aces is released on Monday - pre-order from Amazon.co.uk with 30% off,
Click Here • Keith Bennett is presenting a new lecture on coin magic
(sleights and fekes) and visiting magicians are welcome, (small charge for
non-members) at
The Pentacle Club on Tuesday May 8th • "Sleight of hand, total hatred"
Click Here • "Houdini stunt on the cards"
Click Here • "TV: Teller speaks!"
Click Here • "Magicians sue TV stations for revealing magic coin
tricks"
Click Here • "Magicians sue Japan TV networks"
Click Here • "Cage thriller tops UK box office"
Click Here • "Pam Anderson lands Electra's Vegas gig"
Click Here • Krishin Uttamchandani has launched the Krazy Ace Forum
and would welcome new members:
www.krazyace.co.uk •
Please remember the Friday 12 noon deadline for all submissions - have a
magic week, Duncan. 5.5.07