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The Northern Magic Circle Summit
Convention 2017
Friday 21st, Saturday 22nd and
Sunday 23rd April
Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Reported by Donald Bevan
Closing
its sixty-year celebrations, Northern Magic Circle returned to grass
roots, the city of Newcastle, scene of its first convention in 1957
followed every year by a variety of venues. Organising team of President
Rob Temple, Ken Dyne (Kennedy) and Bill Temple (president’s dad and
Editor of Northern Lights magazine) produced convention events
which were highlights of magic, laughter and friendship. The main
convention events were ‘under one roof’, the exception being the
Saturday Gala Show. The County Hotel proved ideal, being comfortable
with good food and facilities.
Festivities began on Friday night with a dinner. Totally informal, dress
from sports shirts and jeans to smart suits and dresses, diners enjoyed
a two-course meal with no speeches or other asides. Entertainment came
from singer Lou Coel who warbled her way through a 30-minute spot with a
variety of songs, and magic from talented professional magician Darren
Mac, a former N.M.C. Junior of several years ago. Darren had good, fast
patter lines with five cards (throw two away etc.!) leading to a clever
climax, and an animal version of what I call ‘McCombism’, an assistant
choosing a picture from an unknown all-alike selection, only to finally
match the performer’s prediction.
Saturday – We’re off!
After registrations and opening of the dealers (including World Magic
Shop, Adrian Sullivan, Mental Underground [Ken Dyne[), and The Magic
Box), President Rob Temple welcomed everyone before introducing the
first lecturer, David Penn. Known internationally as innovator of
numerous effects, David’s offering consisted of producing a glass
tumbler and levitation of said tumbler, culminating in the sudden
appearance of a large bottle of wine. The concealment, method and
handling being specially devised. A borrowed coin which bent in the
spectator’s hand (using a marketed gimmick) followed, before David
detailed a special effect for weddings in which the stem of a wine glass
visibly bent. The only gimmicks used being a blow-torch and the
cheekiest of misdirection!
Next a 30-minute break for refreshments, to check out the dealers and
for chat. These breaks came between each event. No dashing from one to
another, missing a meal or snack or having to decide what or who to see.
Very civilised! On with the motley, for the Ken Dyne lecture. Ken is a
mentalist who travels the world (off to Israel shortly, then to
America). He set out to prove mentalism can be entertaining not boring,
and proved it. First a book test, usual chosen word revealed but with a
simple, stunning and excellent method. A prediction routine involving a
spectator’s choice of coloured envelope had all the attributes of
‘magical theatre’, and four spectators choosing coloured balls enabled
Ken to divine who had the odd one out – a golden ball. Mentalists
boring? Not this one!
After the lunch break, the inter-society Close-up Competition, organised
and introduced by Stuart Clarkson. With seven performers representing
magic clubs affiliated to the Northern Magic Circle, a good mix of
talents was on show. James Piatt for Durham S.M. opened with manic
approach and facial expression as cards, ribbon and a ring were
manipulated into a pleasing spot. Gordon Wardle for Newcastle N.M.C. had
slick patter for a routine with cards depicting ‘This and That’, changed
kings to queens and then to jokers, and had fun with a pen which would
‘write any colour’! Rick Tynan for Liverpool Mahatma M.C. revealed his
‘chosen card coat’ – 52 cards displayed on the inside of his jacket,
before revealing matching cards from a shuffled deck in an entertaining
routine. Daniel Johnson on behalf of Darlington M.C. was slick with an
amusing prediction and numerous card revelations. North Western Society
of Magicians fielded Adam Hudson who opened with an amusing maths
puzzle, predicted the totals of thrown dice and also a birthday – all
with success. Nimmo Clarke for Middlesbrough M.C., not exactly in the
prime of youth (like your reporter!), showed skill with predictions,
revelations and neat presentation of shuffled deck halves placed in two
glass tumblers revealing matching pairs. Finally, for Northern Magic
Circle, veteran performer Hedley Fawcett who smoothly romped through a
neat spot stick routine, manipulated card fans, had fun with rubber
bands, and showed why his matchboxes were haunted. All with smooth,
entertaining presentation.
Another break, before a feature lecture by Martin Duffy, well known to
many magicians and one of the busiest performers in the north-east. The
lecture was special on two counts: one it was Martin’s first on the
subject, two it was aimed at children’s performers. Not however the
‘party magician’ but educational magic for schools, Martin’s specialist
forté. He explained how he divides his work into age groups, effects
used covering maths, English, geography and other subjects all wrapped
up in one package – fun! His workbox or trunk has a combination lock
which the children solve, his sponge ball routine is fun (counting), and
numbers on a silk scarf magically jumped around. There was sound advice
on how to approach schools, suggested fees and effects. Excellent.
Northern Magic & Variety
This ‘Gala’ set in the Tyne Theatre and Opera House, a classic theatre
of gilt and plush was billed as ‘A night of world class magic, comedy
and variety’. And so it proved. Featured were The Mimic Men (clever
impressionists with a range from Bruce Forsyth to other well known
stars), one of whom, Alfie, stood in as compère as the original, Steffen
Peddie was indisposed.
The Kathleen Davis Dancers opened the show, a smart dozen-plus team of
girls of varied age and size in a neatly choreographed set. Graeme Shaw
(of The Magic Box) provided the first magic, restoring an already torn
newspaper, had fun with a borrowed finger ring and sawed a volunteer
girl in two using an unusual set-up. The Mimic Men in a lengthy spot
were followed by Lorenzo Carcione, finalist in this year’s Young
Magician of the Year competition at The Magic Circle. This smartly
dressed young man manipulated cards, coins, bubbles and doves with
style, closing with the standard dove cage vanish.
My notes on the next act simply read ‘Tossed Deck’? If any one effect of
the entire weekend hit the magicians, this must have been it. First what
appeared to be the usual Hoy routine of Tossed Out Deck in which three
spectators each peek a card from the deck and the performer names the
cards. That’s all? Not this time, because with three spectators having
peeked their cards and still standing, Kennedy named their cards
and correctly aligned them to each person! Certainly a new twist I had
not encountered before although I understand the routine is marketed by
Kennedy. Great stuff!
Change of pace now, very much so as Michael Jordan bounced on stage to
juggle large rings and continually spin about ten dinner plates atop
slender poles. No wonder he stays slim!
Opening the second half, the dancers again in a frenetic routine of
speed and precision. An excellent team. The Mimic Men returned with a
clever and fast A to Z of voices. Cris Cross, a former NMC Junior of
years past, now a successful professional performer, played simply for
laughs with a well-presented strait-jacket escape. Next came
‘Gut-Wrenching Regurgitations (as programmed!) by Kieron Johnson, whose
swallowing of coins and their reproduction head or tails up, as
requested, is not exactly ‘after-dinner entertainment’!
Finally, closing the show High Jinx (Michael Jordan and assistant) with
fast-paced illusions featuring repeat penetrations of the poor girl’s
body by blades, rods and laser lights. The audience of several hundred,
the greater part of which were general public, showed warm appreciation
for the performers.
Sunday Lectures and Convention Close
First event early Sunday morning was the N.M.C. AGM, which cannot be
reported, except that Rick Tynan was confirmed as President for 2017/18,
with Stuart Clarkson as President-Elect.
In the History of Mystery slot, first lecture of the day was by Walt
Lees, whose experiences of selling Svengali decks in such prestigious
venues as Harrods, Selfridges and Hamleys for more than a decade were
fascinating and enlightening. Walt explained the techniques and
psychology of ‘pitching’, detailing ‘tricks of the trade’ to gather a
‘tight’ crowd at the table. Walt’s record, along with a pitching
partner, was to sell 1,000 decks of cards in one week! The lecture
concluded with a ‘pitch’ demonstration showing how to handle the cards
and deliver impact effects.
After lunch came a brief dealer demonstration by Graeme Shaw for The
Magic Box, showing a novel version of Louis Histed’s Papyrus effect,
using bathroom taps and plugs (often incorrectly referred to as Ali
Bongo’s. Ali’s Pom Poms routine was his version of the Histed effect).
Adrian Sullivan had an intriguing deck of cards from which numerous
choices were made and immediately named by the performer, and Kennedy
plugged his Passed Out Deck seen in the Gala, on special offer at £50!
The afternoon opened with a lecture by Kieron Johnson, who sadly had
only arrived on Saturday from Canada, but his luggage didn’t! In almost
borrowed clothing and none of his lecture gear (which I can vouch as
being crazy, clever and intriguing) Kieron settled for mainly showing a
routine with borrowed table forks, which mysteriously bent and at one
point not only bent but completely separated, slowly, the tines falling
to the table. Out of nothing came – magic!
After the obligatory break, the next lecture was by Darren Mac, who
first explained the full routine, method and psychology of his Five Card
Repeat, the cards dropped into a cardboard box the front of which had
changing pictures. Finally the cards vanished and the box shown empty.
Following came a mix of excellent ideas and effects for children,
general close-up plus cards. It was an instructive and entertaining
lecture.
For the after-dinner event came the presentations and official close of
the convention. N.M.C. Secretary Brian Lead announced the prizes and
President Rob Temple presented them. First came membership awards,
followed by The Eric Bland Trophy for best contribution to Northern
Lights (N.M.C.’s magazine) to Paul Guy. The Close-up winner for the
Jim Lumley Cup was Hedley Fawcett for Northern Magic Circle, also
receiving the George Eyre’s Vice President’s Trophy for best club entry.
The runner-up was Nimmo Clarke for Middlesbrough M.C., receiving the
John Pye Trophy. The special President’s Award for services to the
Northern Magic Circle went to Kennedy. Finally Northern Lights
Editor Bill Temple announced winners of a competition he had set over
several months as Paul Guy and Donald Bevan.
With the hand-over of presidency from Rob Temple (who had been a great
ambassador for N.M.C. and magic in general) to Rick Tynan and wife
Carol, was that all? No! To wind up the weekend Rob Temple and Kennedy,
with side-kick Emma, put together a magic version of the TV quiz show
Pointless, with four teams of two competing. Questions, pictures,
anagrams posed puzzling subjects, cleverly researched via ‘100 people’.
No prizes, but the winners were Brian Sefton and Kieron Johnson. It was
fun, lots of laughs and a lively social end to the convention.
So ended the anniversary convention of the Northern Magic Circle which
welcomes new members (www.northernmagiccircle.org.uk).
Check out eventual details of next year’s convention and aim to be
there. No hassle, a relaxing magical weekend.
© Donald Bevan, April 2017.