The theme was “Self Working Tricks”, and the host David
Whitson led off the evening with a demonstration of animating a stuffed
animal, “Wally the Wombat”. While making a stuffed animal appear alive
is not directly magic, it is linked to the production of a stuffed animal –
especially for those of us who do not wish to raise a live rabbit or dove. He next used a Drawer Box to produce a
teddy bear puppet.
The theme of self-working tricks covers just about every facet
of magic, as demonstrated by Barry Whitson performing a rope cutting
trick, followed by Al Hirschel performing a close-up item – a magic key
in which the tongue could be moved up and down by the magician but not by the
spectator.
Tom Blunden had two items for us – the rolling
together of a $10 and $20 bills so that they changed places, and the paper
cutting item, “Staricle” (from Dan Harlan). Straight cuts with scissors
produce a star and a round
circle - the production of this large round hole allows the performer to
put his head inside it for an applause cue !
The workings of the “Fire-book” were shown and explained by John
Ferguson. He next showed how a
vanished silk reappeared inside a Coke bottle.
Another silk effect used was the Crystal Box, in which a silk appears instantly
inside an empty perspex box just with a wave of the hand. John demonstrated the Egyptian water box, a
wooden box that can be shown empty and then a glass of Coke is produced from
inside it. There are problems in using this,
though with sight angles. Cards with
coloured spots were used in a baffling mind-reading effect. Because John had
not practiced the Penetrating Block effect, and wanted to do it, he was
grateful when David Whitson volunteered to perform it for him.
What a collection of magic items Noel Clair had for
us! He had been given a “D-Lite”, and
he manipulated the glowing red light so it appeared to come from his mouth, his
ear, and so on. Two coins passed
magically through a glass. He did for
us the age-old miracle of the Magic Colouring Book, in which initially blank
pages turn into drawings and then into coloured pictures. Coins tricks followed
– he loves them – a coin disappearing from a little double door box, Coins
Across, and one of the Coin Box type tricks.
His version of Three Card Monte was very smooth, as was the card wallet
switch. The Card Warp effect is a
superb mystery, and he did it justice.
He passed a rope around, then through, a volunteer’s arm, foot and
leg. He finished off with colour
changing silks and colour changing shoelaces.
His concatenation of items shows just how widely the term “Self-working
trick” applies!
Monica Howlett and Deadra gave us a change of pace. Monica sang for us two songs to Deadra’s great guitar playing – “How to Save a Life”,
and “Little Talks”. Nice rendition, and
a neat rehearsal for items in our October Show. Moody and expressive !
Al Hirschel rounded the evening off with his automatic trick
with the theme of islands and treasure. He showed us just how self-working is this item. This one really is "From A Shuffled Deck In Use"! Starting with any pack, even
a borrowed one, he showed us how to deal the cards out from a shuffled
pack, and still tell a fascinating story, with a surprising finish. This was a vivid practical demonstration of
how useful is a self-working trick, allowing the magician to concentrate on
presentation. He did a great job.
