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The 41st International Magic Convention
16th, 17th, 18th November 2012, London
Reported by Matthew Field MIMC
Photos by Arto Airaksinen
There’s
something special about the MacMillan family’s International Magic convention
which takes place each November in London. There’s a warmth and a buzz that was
very much in evidence at this year’s Ron’s Day, as it is called, after the
convention founder, the late Ron Macmillan. This was the 41st year of the event
which was held on 16, 17 and 18 November at the wonderful Mermaid Theatre
complex, conveniently located across the street from the Blackfriars rail and
underground stations. More than 600 magicians attended the events, with about an
equal number of lay audience members joining them for the two performances of
the gala show.
For the second year, the convention was preceded by a separate entry London
Festival of Magic, which ran in the nearby Bridewell Theatre from 12-16
November. Participants in these events which ran all day with separate evening
shows, were: with a theme of Directions ‒ Richard McDougall, Michael Vine
(Derren Brown’s manager), Derren Brown’s TV producer from Objective Productions
Anthony Owen (interviewed by me), Morgan & West and Rob James; Tuesday was
devoted to Card Magic with sessions and a show by Woody Aragon, Vincent Hedan,
Michael Vincent, Will Houstoun and Oliver Meech; Wednesday was all about
Mentalism, with Luke Jermay, Ian Rowland, Chris Cox, Vincent Hedan, and Joe
Atmore; on Thursday Perception & Deception were the bywords, with Richard
Wiseman, Peter Lamont, mathemagician Arthur Benjamin, Thomas Fraps and Card
Ninja; Friday was devoted to Comedy Magic with lectures by Juan Tamariz, Stephen
Bargatze, Neal Austin and Rick Merrill.
The International Magic Festival itself began on Friday evening at the Mermaid
Theatre Complex with a recreation of a Dunninger one-hour radio programme with
Joe Atmore in the title role, assisted by yours truly and Marvin Berglas, plus
guest stars Frankie (from Dancing on Ice) and Sophie Aldred (who played
‘Ace’ on Dr. Who). Jeff McBride lectured next, followed by a hilarious
mock mentalism show by a barefoot Ian D. Montfort (actually Tom Binns).
Saturday morning and early afternoon was devoted to the 29th annual Close-Up
Competition for cash prizes and trophies, including the coveted Kevin Reay
trophy. A dozen contestants from nine countries competed in 10-minute
performances with an international judging panel including Gerrit Brengman,
newly-installed FISM president Domenico Dante, Gay Ljungberg. Tonny van Rhee,
Andy Nyman, Joan Caesar, Obie O’Brien and Jackie McClements. Awards of merit
were won by Fay Presto (U.K.), Jo Jo (China) and Rune Carlson (Norway). Third
prize, a trophy plus £100, went to Shota Irieda (Japan) for a humorous cups &
balls sequence and a prediction in which the colour tie chosen by a spectator
matched the one he wore. Second prize, a trophy plus £500, was won by Ha-Seol
Park (South Korea) for a mock practise session with a cup and ball, and lots of
colour-changing props. The Kevin Reay trophy and £1000 went to first prize
winner Pierrric (Switzerland), whose crowd-pleasing, funny performance included
cards and an instant Matrix.
The Saturday programme continued with a lecture from U.S. comic magician Stephen
Bargatze, who showed how to strong-arm children on stage while they had a great
time being pushed around, and he was followed by Eric Mead who deconstructed his
version of 3-Fly. Making his first live magic convention appearance was Simon
Drake, star of TV’s Secret Cabaret and performer at his own House of
Magic in London, who reminisced about his TV show appearances, demonstrated
original effects and gave invaluable presentation tips.
Around 30 dealers from around the world had their wares on offer in a convenient
dealer room, and it should be mentioned that hot inexpensive food was available
as well as two bars serving libations.
Saturday evening saw the first of two performances of the Gala Show, but we’ll
delay a report because a separate admission event took place simultaneously in
the Bridewell Theatre, and that was a one-man show by Juan Tamariz. The theatre
was filled with some very well-known card experts who were in awe of Sr.
Tamariz’s ability to do absolute miracles while giving a hilarious performance,
and 90 minutes flew by before the audience stood and applauded this genius of
contemporary magic. As for me, I could find only one word to describe the effect
of the evening: inspirational.
There were magicians sessioning in the Bridewell bar and the one at the Crowne
Plaza hotel well into the late hours of the night. Sunday began with a lecture
by Joe Atmore, who related his experience as a consultant for the TV programme
The Next Uri Geller, a reality show which aired in ten countries around
the world. After the presentation of the awards for the contest, detailed above,
a 90-minute Close-Up Magic Gala, compered by John Archer, featured Woody Aragon
with card magic, Stephen Bargatze with comedy, Jeff McBride with a brilliant new
take on a thimble routine and his signature Water Bowls, Rick Merrill with his
vanishing and multiplying Sharpie pens, and Eric Mead with a tabled Coins
Across, Oil & Water and the routine by the late Tim Conover for Ramsay’s fabled
Cylinder and Coins. To end the show, Mr. Bargatze and Mr. Merrill got into faux
fight over football team fandom and wrestled their way around and under the
giant TV screen.
Rick Merrill opened the afternoon with a lecture, followed by the one and only
Juan Tamariz, whose lecture included magic and practical theory about how to
raise the level of energy a magician can evoke from his audience. David Berglas
was on hand to present the eagerly awaited, and well-kept secret of who would be
this years recipient of the Berglas International Magic Award. Previous winners
have been the MacMillan family, David Copperfield, Uri Geller, Juan Tamariz and
Derren Brown. An eight-piece Mariachi band joined Mr. Berglas on stage and after
serenading the audience, one of the band members turned out to be Jeff McBride,
who accepted the award and sat with Mr. Berglas for a chat and audience Q&A.
And so we come to Sunday evening and the second performance of the Gala Show.
Pre-show entertainment was provided by several close-up magicians, and Michael
Vincent performed his parlour show. Noel Britten was the hilarious M.C. who kept
things moving at a brisk pace. With an Olympic torch-shaped programme in hand,
the audience was kept alternately laughing and gasping in awe by the skill of
the performers, including Jo Jo with a production act themed around pouring a
cup of tea; Simon Drake with magic and the most incredible strobe-lit Dancing
Cane you will ever have the pleasure to witness; the balletic and poetic
manipulation act of FISM prize-winner Lukas, mathemagician Arthur Benjamin who
can add and multiply long strings of numbers and construct a magic square while
making it all entertaining; Jeff McBride with his manipulation, card-throwing
and unbelievably entertaining Miser’s Dream coin production act with a child
from the audience; Japan’s Ouka, who performs feats of wonder with a diablo and
yo-yo along with rings whose mesmerising patterns are truly beautiful,
especially when seen under ultraviolet light; Stephen Bargatze with a strait
jacket escape which had people crying with laughter, and comic Neal Austin, who
rarely (if ever) appears in venues other than on passenger ships. This last act,
Neal Austin, is a physical comic who had the audience gasping for breath as he
brought out outrageous props and over the top gags, and even performed a one-man
chair levitation. It is wonderful to see someone with this much experience be so
funny on stage, and I can only hope he will eventually release a DVD of his
work. Neal Austin is one of the greats.
It was a wonderful show, put together, as is the entire roster of performers for
the convention and the London Festival of Magic, by Noel Britten. Martin
MacMillan, Georgia MacMillan, Teresa MacMillan and their families and friends
run the administrative side. Video throughout the week was provided by Bob and
Sue Hamilton, along with Jay Fortune, Matt Heard and Geoff Searle. Backstage
crew included Jon Robinson, Jeff Randall, Cliff and Alex Ruff, Ed Hilsum, Tom
Sanderson and Harry De Cruz. The staff of the Mermaid is friendly and helpful,
and I can’t wait to book again for next year. The dates will be 15-17 November
at the same venue, with the London Festival of Magic immediately preceding from
10-15 November, and you’ll be able to find all the information on the
International Magic website. I recommend you put the dates in your diary now!
This year was something special. I’m sure next year’s will be as well.
www.facebook.com/groups/internationalmagic
© Matthew Field, November 2012