Magic was in the air as 500 magicians gathered at the 49th Bristol Day of Magic - a high profile event with an international array of talent. Eyes were popping in amazement at the truly magical skills particularly of the close-up kind which is so popular at the present time.
Steve Beam from America gave us some very entertaining card magic with chosen cards being revealed by popping up out of the deck in the most spectacular fashion. Shawn Farquhar from Canada was creative with a sealed deck of cards and our own Nick Einhorn made coins appear, vanish and move around in mysterious ways.
Other events during the day included a one-man show by the hilarious current Magic Circle Magician of the Year, John Archer, with a miscellany of items including the borrowed, burnt and restored note, and even some talented ukulele playing, a junior workshop organised by Mandy Davis, lectures from David Tomkins, Einhorn and Farquhar, and a dealers’ fair.
It was in the stage gala show that Farquhar scored yet again. He took a piece of rope tied between two stands two metres apart, cut the rope in two, tied the ends together and then was able to move the knot to another position before completely restoring the rope. He repeated this several times, and then - with the aid of a video screen - did a beautiful cameo whereby in close-up on his hands a chosen card kept travelling to the top of the deck, albeit that it was buried in the deck each time.
Einhorn also made a repeat appearance in the day, this time with magic of the mind. He baffled the audience with a number of predictions and experiments including unscrambling a Rubik’s Cube while blindfolded.
There were fine manipulations from the suave and sophisticated Craig Christian who in traditional manner produced doves and fans of cards at his finger tips, finally vanishing the doves in their cage which then instantly changed to a beautiful girl. Colin Rose repeatedly produced fire brands interspersed with some skilled card manipulations, and Brian Sefton manipulated not just cards but also billiard balls and thimbles, did a floating ball, and finally taking a black and white silk handkerchief transformed them into an evening cape which he donned to exit.
But the man who was to capture the hearts of the audience was not a magician. This was Michael Pearse whose fast delivery of one-liners as he juggled various objects had everyone holding their sides with laughter. He took three curtain calls.
But illusions were not forgotten. Daniel Dean and company had a girl appear from a flaming cage, produced three cloaked figures from a lighted cabinet only to reveal himself under one, and levitated a girl by way of a fan underneath.
The show opened with an illuminated laser feature, was emceed by Steve Evans and the Ambassadors of Jazz provided some lively music prior to the start and during the interval.
The day was organised by Paul Praegar, Barrie Savage, Mandy Farrell and Simon Lane of the Bristol Society of Magic.
Winter Gardens and Playhouse Theatre, Weston-super-Mare, May 10
Production information can change over the run of the show.
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