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Boris Wild at the House of Magic
UK
Reviewed by Dr Phil Cox
23rd October 2008
Boris Wild’s reputation goes before him somewhat – FISM winner, France’s
greatest magician performs on five continents etc etc. So a chance to catch his
short UK tour at the House of Magic (Stourbridge was not to be missed. It was
also nice to see that Boris more than lived up to his reputation and then
surpassed it.
The evening was held at reasonably short notice after John Milner – owner of The
House of Magic - had managed to secure the booking only the week before. As he
admitted on the night, he felt slightly daunted at the task of selling all the
tickets within a week. He need not have worried tickets flew out of the shop and
people had evidently travelled some distance to catch the lecture. On the night
the House of Magic was packed to the rafters, although a small venue the room
managed to hold about 35 audience members. Due to the recent refurbishment and
extension to the shop this number had enlarged from previous lectures, Ali Bongo
and Charles Gaucci having easily filled the smaller venue. But this did not
detract from the cosy feel that the shop provides, a feel that is perfectly
suited to close up demonstrations- such as with some of Boris’s effects.
Boris’s lecturing style is charming, his delivery disarming and his material of
the highest quality. An early statement in the proceedings was that the whole
lecture was going to deal solely with cards and nothing else, the sense of
slight regret from some of the audience was obvious. But how wrong we were to
expect only packet tricks and complicated slights. Within the space of about two
hours, Boris covered card tricks, some great utility slights, full routines,
mental effects, acts suitable for close up and other useable for the stage. Of
particular interest were his thoughts his thoughts on crowd psychology, trick
development and his personal takes on performance. At every point during the
lecture and during the explanations he would clearly explain his motivations for
the patter used and the bits of business he employs to carry a trick off.
Although cards were the chosen medium this was merely a vehicle to demonstrate
some powerful effects and methods of working as the superb lecture covered all
areas of magic and performance and demonstrated an unswerving dedication to
presenting effects and tricks that enchant the magician but would amaze the lay
audience.
None of the effects or slights could be described as solely “magic for
magicians”; all the effects were real world workers that could easily fit into
the repertoire of many working professionals; and this was topped off by the
style and grace with which Boris delivered his material. Whether it was with a
smile or Gallic shrug, the effects were enhanced by the performance as this
communicated the spirit of the magic, just as his clear demonstrations showed
the mechanics.
All in all, Boris delivered a fantastic lecture and provided a night that will
be long remembered mainly because Boris is a class act! and if you get chance to
see him perform or lecture a number of people in Stourbridge recommend you take
the chance as you won’t be disappointed.
© Dr. Phil Cox, October 2008