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“Comedian” Ruins Magic Trick – Angers Magicians


Peter Kay Poses with Safire in Blackpool

The IC North Wales (UK) reports today Peter Kay, described as a ‘Top Comedian,’ “pulled back a theater curtain to reveal a magician stuffing his assistant in a box as they prepared a trick.”  The story was recounted on a talk show hosted by Michael Parkinson. 

The theatre audience laughed – as did millions of Parkinson viewers during Saturday night’s chat show. But North Wales couple Stuart and Jayne Loughland watched in disbelief as Kay recounted the tale.

You will no doubt recall Inside Magic’s article profiling Mr. & Mrs. Loughland a/k/a Safire and their award-winning routine. 

Safire was performing at the prestigious Opera Theatre in Blackpool last summer and shared the bill with “comedian” Peter Kay. 

Mr. Loughland told reporters last night,  “He had deliberately got caught up in the curtain, saying he wanted a full stage and things moved. I was just pushing Jayne into a box and when I looked up all I could see was Peter standing there with about half the audience behind him.” 

Ever the professionals, Safire carried on. 

“I couldn’t believe my eyes. He is a brilliant entertainer and I reckon he knew we were behind the curtain and getting ready. Initially I just panicked when I saw him but in the end all went well and the 3,000 people in the theatre gave us a great ovation.”

The couple are Associate Members of the Magic Circle. 

Contrary to the comedian’s description, both Stuart and Jayne are illusionists in the act. 

“We both do illusions, whether it’s close up stuff or creating sets,” said Mr. Loughland.  Theirs is a match made in magic heaven.  A chance meeting while working at the same pharmacy developed into a marriage of their talents and their lives. 

The couple formed the act, Safire about a year before they became husband and wife.  Since then, they have traveled the world and appeared with big names. 

Their current presentation displays not only their magical talents, it also shows their theatrical innovation.  Their act fits within a story.  Mr. Loughland told reporters, “The production is loosely based on Pirates Of The Caribbean and not only do we get to perform our illusions in the act but we play parts with Paul and Barry (the Chuckle Brothers) in the comedy sketches. I even get involved in a sword fight.”

Visit Safire on the web here.


Continue reading “Comedian” Ruins Magic Trick – Angers Magicians

March 16th, 2005 | Category: Magic News | Leave a comment

You Cannot Argue with Logic – Bill Switch Myth or Truth

 

Arthur Tivoli

The following is a true story — substantially true — used to prove, logically, that Rick Carruth, editor of Street Magic Info, Street Magic Bullets, and the eZine eMagic Deluxe, is actually four people. 

Our story unfolds just a few days ago in a community center not unlike other community centers . . .

One of our great local magic clubs, Ring 22 of Detroit held its Thumb Tip Night last week.

(As many of you remember, until December 31, 2004, Michigan law prohibited ?Thumb Tip Nights? or ?Vernet Days? if the event was to be held within ten miles of a ?high school or vocational school woodshop.?  The law made sense back in the day when any woodshop teacher worth his salt was missing a digit.  The law sought to protect the feelings of these often under-paid instructors by not allowing magicians to display fake digits for any purpose.  Thanks to the advent of OSHA and union demands for safer shop tools, the amputation numbers have dropped dramatically).

Each member was to offer some innovative technique or effect with a thumb tip.  Doug Mac George took the stage and began demonstration of a bill switch.  As he neared completion of the all-important third fold, his thumb tip popped from his hand, bounced off the table, and rolled on the floor beneath him.

We all felt badly for the poor guy.  We also felt relief that we weren?t him.

Then Mr. Mac George did something strange.  We thought maybe he had lost his mind; that he was so embarrassed by dropping the thumb tip, he didn?t realize he wouldn?t be able to complete the effect.

Oh, poor Mr. Mac George.  He was a figure to be pitied.

He continued to fold the bill for a final time and when most magicians would expect the bill to be momentarily obscured for a switch to be made, he left the bill in plain sight.

Of course he cannot obscure the bill.  He has no reason to do it.  There is nothing to switch.  Oh, dear.  So sad, this man.

It was like a car accident, though.  I couldn?t help but look.  He began to unfold the bill and show that it had indeed transformed without props or a hidden move.  The first bill had also vanished and Mr. Mac George showed both sides of the new bill and demonstrated that his hands were empty and free of appliances.

Gulp.  I became gaseous.  My internal organs were shutting down to allow my trembling body to enter into the sleep of the undead.  One of my defense mechanisms when I witness a witch or some voodoo doer is to act like I have become a zombie.  Witches and voodooers will rarely cast a zombie spell on someone who is already in suspended animation.

I fought to keep my eyes open.  I ordered my lungs to take in deeper breaths and my heart to beat slightly faster than coma-level.  That?s how good this was.  I was willing to be made into a true brainless creature of the night just to see if there was a logical explanation.

Mr. Mac George said nothing more.  He did not explain how the transformation was…
Continue reading You Cannot Argue with Logic – Bill Switch Myth or Truth

March 16th, 2005 | Category: Magic Stories | Leave a comment