The Magic Circle Christmas Show - Centre for the Magic Arts
Dec 21, 2022 3:15:22 GMT
via mobile
Dr Tom, mrnutz, and 2 more like this
Post by mkb on Dec 21, 2022 3:15:22 GMT
I'm sure I'm not alone on these forums in having had a magic set as a child and performing (badly) tricks for family and friends. For me, it sparked a lifelong fascination with the art and skill of conjuring.
I had always wanted to peek inside The Magic Circle, and tonight I did just that. The occasion was the first night of The Magic Circle Christmas Show in their Euston headquarters. It takes place in an intimate theatre, which has just eleven rows of raked seats, and a small balcony upstairs with three rows, so no-one is too far away.
It's advisable to arrive when doors open, one hour before showtime, as there is an interesting museum to explore in the basement, more exhibits in the Devant Room on the first floor (underneath the theatre), and two magicians performing pre-show/interval table magic. There's a bar too.
The one-sheet programme (£2 or three for £5) doubles as a raffle ticket. Unfortunately ours did not have a number on it, so the chance of winning, as Paul Daniels might have said, was not a lot. It does however list the roster of eight acts who are appearing across the short run. There were five tonight.
Danny Buckler held proceedings together with a little comedy magic and introduced his peers: Nikola Arcane from Belfast, in her debut at this venue, delivered an aesthetically pleasing performance, while Tom Stone from Sweden outwitted me with some clever misdirection. Stephen Barry used humour to put his own take on some classic prediction routines, and the standout was Guy Hollingsworth with some incredible legerdemain.
This is not a big-budget affair; there is no grand spectacle. It's old-fashioned and up-close, and allows you to appreciate the unadulterated skill on display. There were few tricks I hadn't seen before, but there were some original re-interpretations and some brilliant showmanship, tested once or twice by assisting audience members, seemingly unable to follow simple instructions and nearly ruining the trick.
I am always thrilled when an illusion defies any rational explanation, such that I cannot deduce the method. The show did not score well in that regard, but the artistry was so masterful that I didn't care. I was mesmerised throughout.
I was however mystified by a mystery clock in the Devant Room whose hands will turn despite being mounted on a transparent glass screen with no apparent connection to any mechanism. I had to consult Mr Google to discover how that was done, and it's very clever indeed.
At £33.50 for more than three hours of entertainment, not to mention a bucket-list item checked, this was both a bargain and a delight.
Four stars.
Pre-show: From 18:00
Act 1: 19:02-19:55
Act 2: 20:17-21:15
I had always wanted to peek inside The Magic Circle, and tonight I did just that. The occasion was the first night of The Magic Circle Christmas Show in their Euston headquarters. It takes place in an intimate theatre, which has just eleven rows of raked seats, and a small balcony upstairs with three rows, so no-one is too far away.
It's advisable to arrive when doors open, one hour before showtime, as there is an interesting museum to explore in the basement, more exhibits in the Devant Room on the first floor (underneath the theatre), and two magicians performing pre-show/interval table magic. There's a bar too.
The one-sheet programme (£2 or three for £5) doubles as a raffle ticket. Unfortunately ours did not have a number on it, so the chance of winning, as Paul Daniels might have said, was not a lot. It does however list the roster of eight acts who are appearing across the short run. There were five tonight.
Danny Buckler held proceedings together with a little comedy magic and introduced his peers: Nikola Arcane from Belfast, in her debut at this venue, delivered an aesthetically pleasing performance, while Tom Stone from Sweden outwitted me with some clever misdirection. Stephen Barry used humour to put his own take on some classic prediction routines, and the standout was Guy Hollingsworth with some incredible legerdemain.
This is not a big-budget affair; there is no grand spectacle. It's old-fashioned and up-close, and allows you to appreciate the unadulterated skill on display. There were few tricks I hadn't seen before, but there were some original re-interpretations and some brilliant showmanship, tested once or twice by assisting audience members, seemingly unable to follow simple instructions and nearly ruining the trick.
I am always thrilled when an illusion defies any rational explanation, such that I cannot deduce the method. The show did not score well in that regard, but the artistry was so masterful that I didn't care. I was mesmerised throughout.
I was however mystified by a mystery clock in the Devant Room whose hands will turn despite being mounted on a transparent glass screen with no apparent connection to any mechanism. I had to consult Mr Google to discover how that was done, and it's very clever indeed.
At £33.50 for more than three hours of entertainment, not to mention a bucket-list item checked, this was both a bargain and a delight.
Four stars.
Pre-show: From 18:00
Act 1: 19:02-19:55
Act 2: 20:17-21:15