Number 412 - 17th May 2008
Magic
Night returns in June. Barry and Stuart take you in to their
nightmarish world. Miss Behave misbehaves with her bizarre and quirky act
that's a cocktail of quick wit and high camp, topped with a tongue as
sharp as the blades she swallows. Audiences are frequently caught between
howls of laughter and gasps of shock. Mandy Muden (photo) delights with
great incredible comic timing and magic tricks. And Matt Hennem is a
unique illusionist/juggler. Plus resident mind reader Steve Dela and MC
Tiffany Stevenson. Also featuring: Neil Henry and Lee Hathaway - ever
popular and incredibly talented close up magicians, who will again be
presenting their unique and innovative tabletop magic before the show.
Doors open 7pm, Show starts 8pm. Tickets £10, Concessions £7
www.ticketweb.co.uk
or call Ticket Web on 08700 600 100. Soho Revue Bar, 11 Walkers Court,
Soho, London W1.
www.sohorevuebar.com.
17.5.08
Magic
Books By Post Ltd established themselves in 1973 and soon became the
number one source for magic books worldwide. Last year Steve Short and
Paul Cooke took over the business and have now launched a brand new
website featuring over 2,500 titles. They can also be seen at major
conventions, and at magic societies with their fun and informative dealer
demonstration. From classic books such as 'Thirteen Steps To Mentalism'
and 'The Tarbell Course in Magic' through to the very latest publications
www.magicbooksbypost.co.uk offer an amazing range of titles. They have
also launched a Book Club, offering members discounts on most books. Visit
www.magicbooksbypost.co.uk today!
17.5.08
The
Sugababes have just completed a sell out UK tour where they opened
their show with a stunning illusion that produced the three girls in the
middle of an open stage. Mark Parker was given the challenge of designing
the illusion and toured with the company overseeing it at every
performance, which included the Royal Albert Hall. Phil Hitchcock’s
company, The Secret Workshop Ltd, finely crafted the entire
illusion.
17.5.08
Magicians
visiting the Greek Ionian Island of Zakynthos (Zante) this Summer
should look out for appearances by Scotland's Comedy Magician Paul
Brignall who will be performing at a variety of venues in the resorts of
Laganas, Kalamaki, Argassi, Alykes and Zante Town before returning to the
UK for the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
www.ukscreen.com/company/paulbrigna.
17.5.08
The
North Western Society of Magicians in Barrow in Furness held their
annual Stage Competition on Wednesday (14th) and were performing to a full
house at The Lisdoonie Hotel on a warm night. Eight members competed for
five trophies, including the new Joe Heath Memorial Trophy for comedy.
This was won by this year's president Peter Fitchett doing a comedy
Scotsman act, complete with kilt and bagpipes. The competition was won by
Terry Crawford & Michelle, with a stunning new illusion act (photo).
Second was Stan Dacre in his first ever stage competition, and third was
Bob Johnson doing a kids act he hasn't done for thirty years. The
originality cup went to Richie and Phil, doing a routine as two men
standing on a moving train. Reported by Jacqui Little.
www.barrowmagic.co.uk.
17.5.08
Alakazam
Magic now have a brand new DVD catalogue showcasing their entire range
of unique products in full. This professionally produced DVD is now
shipped out free with all orders and available via request. If you are a
Magic club that would like some free copies of the DVD catalogue to give
out to your members, then please email your name and postal address to:
sales@alakazam.co.uk being sure to put "DVD Catalogue Request" in the
subject line and include the name of the club you are requesting on behalf
of.
17.5.08
MagicTricks.co.uk
has new owners and is headed by British Magical Grand Prix Champions,
Keelan Leyser and Charlotte Marie. The transfer from Carl Fraser took
place recently: "We have been keeping a low profile for the past few
months while we get everything ready for the 'new look' MagicTricks.co.uk,
which some of you may have already seen. But now we are back and better
than ever! To welcome you to the new-look site we are giving away a Free
Thumb Tip with every order for the first 100 orders that come in
after 14th May, as a thumbs up to you for being one of the first to order
with the new owners. Visit
www.magictricks.co.uk to see all that's new today!
17.5.08
Extractor.
After a lot of anticipation, the Extractor deck is available and shipping
now! With well over two hundred units sold before the actual release date
and the reviews and feedback have been nothing short of amazing. This
latest creation by Rob Bromley and Peter Nardi has fooled some of the top
professionals from all over the world. "For the first time in years I was
like a layman again... totally fooled! This will catch you and your
spectator's way off guard. It's like a magical slap in the face!" -
Richard Sanders. See the online demos at
www.alakazam.co.uk.
17.5.08
Cambridge
Pentacle Club's 2008 Magic Competition Winners. Many congratulations
to this year's Cambridge Pentacle Club's competition winners, Jeremy Bond
(left) and Peter de Horsey. These two talented magicians were awarded
their prizes at the club's 89th Annual Dinner, held on Saturday 10 May at
Girton College, Cambridge. Jeremy Bond fought off stiff competition with a
scintillating performance of comedy magic to win the Widger Memorial Cup
for stand-up magic, and Peter de Horsey was ahead of the crowd in close-up
magic with his entertaining mix of coin, card and rubber-band magic to win
the Sylvia Lawrence Memorial Shield. Both are deserving winners, and
received hearty congratulations from club members and guests alike.
17.5.08
Magicians
Cave Productions have just updated their website with a number of new
and exclusive items, and have also added to their ever growing second-hand
section. Paul and Penny email: "We are the only magic manufacturer to
offer a totally free choice of materials for any type of bag we sell and
also a totally free choice of spray finishes and colours for any of the
products we manufacture, here in the Magicians Cave. Visit
www.magicianscave.co.uk to see what's new!
17.5.08
Andy
Nyman is currently filming for "a very controversial new series for
Channel 4 and E4" written by Charlie Brooker (Screen Wipe, Nathan Barley)
which will go out in the Autumn. Moonlight & Magnolias starring Andy, and
which was a great hit last year, is being revived. It plays from July 2nd
- August 2nd at the Tricycle Theatre. To book tickets
Click Here.
www.andynyman.com.
17.5.08
Paul Gordon
lectures at the Watford Association of Magicians
June 3rd at 8pm. "His card magic lecture is all about 'worker'
material he does at weddings, parties and trade shows - it's commercial
and 'do-able'. Paul has written many books over the last 20 years and has
contributed tricks to magazines for 30 years. The lecture is fun,
light-hearted and full of magic." Entrance is £10.00 for non WAM members.
For venue details email the WAM secretary
juliecarpenter@themagiccircle.co.uk
www.wamclub.co.uk.
17.5.08
Close-up
inflation! Adam Keisner has recently acquired a small quantity of
jumbo £2 coins. "These are brass-based, electroplated, two tone silver and
gold coins and are replicas of our classic £2 coin, front and back. They
are nicely weighted and at 2¾" in diameter perfect for any manipulation
work and ideal for Gary Kurtz's wonderful routine 'Flouriuos'." Price:
£20.00 each, £35.00 for two, to this PayPal email address:
adam@keisner.com. Postage is free
within the UK, or add £1.50 for recorded UK delivery, also email enquiries
to adam@keisner.com.
17.5.08
Craig
Christian headlined at the Suncoast Hotel, Las Vegas with his dove act
last week. Other acts included Jeff Hobson and Joseph. Craig is seen here
with his partner and Lance Burton's manager, Peter Reveen, who said "if he
continues what he's doing he will go far!".
17.5.08
Magician
Damien O'Brien recently performed for rap superstar Nelly. Damien
filmed with the rapper for his new DVD and for
www.myspace.com/thehookup. "Nelly was really cool to perform for, he
loved the magic and suggested that we hit Las Vegas - we even exchanged
numbers!" Damien has been seen performing magic to celebrities such as
Akon, Ciara, JD, Estelle, and Chris Brown. All will be seen on Damien's
new DVD
www.damienobrien.com.
17.5.08
Left
of Centre Illusion presents Kockov's new "Fully Loaded" lecture.
Award-winning International Magician, Jasper Blakeley MMC, probably best
known for his outrageous Kockov Alakazam DVDs, wants to tell you about the
most important part of being a professional magician performance. As a
trained actor and creator of more than a dozen unique characters, Jasper
hopes to inspire you to re-examine some of your priorities when it comes
to being a working professional in a trick-obsessed world. Covering
close-up, children's magic, cabaret, one-man shows and even comedy clubs,
Jasper will make you laugh as he not only performs as Kockov, but also as
his deranged stand-up comedy children's entertainer, "Uncle Al the Kiddies
Pal". For more information email
magic@jasperblakeley.co.uk
or call 07973 731335.
17.5.08
Eccentric
explorer, magician, balloon modeller and clown Phileas Flash (aka
Rupert Appleyard) will be in Iceland at the end of May to perform a week
of activities for the Icelandic Magic Society (26th May to 2nd June). The
week's activities will be focused on performance skills and street arts
and will include a lecture, workshop, street show and commissioned balloon
sculpture. For further information about Rupert/Phileas visit
www.rupertappleyard.co.uk or
www.myspace.com/phileasflash or if you are interested in attending any
of his lectures contact Jon Vidis:
jonvidis@tofrar.is.
17.5.08
Card
Capers 2009. Paul Gordon's second informative, fun and full day of
card magic 'Card Capers' will take place on Sunday 10th May 2009 featuring
"tricks, sleights, tips, advice, the biz, style, presentation..." Tickets
are £25.00 each. For more details visit
www.paulgordon.net/cardcapers.htm. This year's day (just gone) is
reviewed by James Stubbs this week,
Click Here.
Paul's just returned from lecturing in America, culminating in lecturing,
dealing and performing at Fechter's Finger Flicking Frolics in New York.
Paul surprised everyone by singing and doing magic to the beat of
Sinatra's One For My Baby! Before turning pro as a magician he used to
sing in a 20-piece jazz-swing band. At FFFF, Paul met his co-author of The
Second 16th Card Books; Mr Tom Craven. Their new project, The Keeper
Card Book will be out soon:
www.paulgordon.net.
17.5.08
Cyril Critchlow. "Blackpool variety legend dies." Lisa Ettridge remembers Cyril Critchlow in The Gazette, Click Here. 17.5.08
The
Secret Life of Houdini: The Making of The World's Greatest Mystifier
is reviewed by Simon Roberts this week,
Click Here. (Many thanks to Simon who is a neighbour as opposed to
being a magician) • "Fury at Derren Brown 'cat killer' TV show"
Click Here • "Derren Brown: Mind Reader"
Click Here • "What a talented bunch we are!"
Click Here • "Magician Roy undergoes knee surgery"
Click Here • "Comedy is magician’s secret"
Click Here • "Abracadabra! Boy saves own life with magic"
Click Here • "Ask: Paul Daniels"
Click Here • Your UK magic news is always welcomed - see you next
week, Duncan.
17.5.08