Remember a while back we mentioned Lawrence Khong, billed as Asia’s Top Illusionist who just happens to be a Baptist minister working as a social worker in Singapore?
The Chicago Sun Times has a very nice piece of about the Rev. Khong and his current tour Magic of Love. The show is more than a great mealange of illusions, story and music; it is also a chance for Rev. Khong to work with his talented daughter, Priscilla.
The show is in Chicago’s beautiful Cadillac Palace through Saturday, May 28th. It then moves on to Salt Lake City, Utah, and completes its current tour in Cerritos, California.
The Magic of Love tells the story of a father and daughter who grow apart and later reconcile. The presentations received great reviews from the press at each of its stops so far and Chicago’s reception was no exception. This is a special production that exemplifies the highest form of our art.
Priscilla Reads Minds
Rev. Khong knew he wanted to bring together magic and theater in a special show. He also knew he wanted to work with his 24 year old daughter, Priscilla.
I’ve been a magician all my life, so I went to Las Vegas to get illusion builders, magicians to help me, and I saw a great show. But the thing is, you walk out and you’re dazzled, but that’s it. There’s nothing that you can think about. I wanted to put together a show that people walk out and say, ‘Hmm, it is something meaningful …’ Otherwise, most magic show is like, ‘Tada! I can do it and you can’t.
So how did he come up with the story? Was it based on his actual relationship with Priscilla?
Priscilla is a very creative person and the downside of a creative person is you get a bit rebellious. She’s always been a difficult person in terms of being able to get close to and see eye-to-eye, so we work on the show and the first year, we were literally killing each other. I would say ‘I’m the father, do it.’ It took us a year or two and I began to recognize that she really has something there and she’s good and let me respect her. And then she began to respect me for the experience I have.
Interestingly, the Sun Times reporter asked Rev. Khong his favorite effect in the show and his response reminds us of our favorite effect — as performed by Rick Thomas. “I levitate my daughter and she flies around… Continue reading Magic of Love Continues Tour
We never thought about until we read today in the Dodge City Daily Globe (KS) but they may be right; “John Calvert (is) a tall Vincent Price look-alike.” Now we cannot get the image of Mr. Price out of our mind.
Anyway.
The paper reports more than 80 folks showed up to witness the Invisible Lodge Magic Show in Meade, Kansas last Saturday. The show was held in the historic Lakeway Hotel Bed and Breakfast Inn — that name seems to cover just about all the possible options for a hotel — and featured magicians from around the world as a benefit for a local woman.
William “JR” Knight owns the place with his wife and serves as a director of the Invisible Lodge International.
The Dodge paper is justifiably impressed with Mr. Calvert and his tremendous resume as magician, lecturer, film star, writer, and inventor. No less than Walter B. Gibson wrote of Mr. Calvert, “He will be remembered as one of the great and unique magicians of history.” And Mr. Gibson would know.
Proof of the newspaper’s undying devotion to Mr. Calvert comes in their three paragraph description of his act beginning with:
At Saturday’s performance, Calvert, dressed in a sparkling purple jacket, intrigued his audience by his dramatic entrance, rushing down the aisle flicking cigarettes into the air gunshot quick so that the eye was bewildered by the sight and source of the cigarettes.
Mr. Calvert performed a dancing handkerchief routine titled “Casper the Ghost,” before levitating one of the hotel’s waitresses.
The show ended with patrons being treated to Mrs. Knight’s “luscious chocolate and cream pastries at a reception for the magicians following the show.”
This is the kind of story that warms the heart and reinforces our belief that magic is not dead; done properly it can leave an incredible impression on ordinary folks.
Landis Smith, starring as The Great Alexi in The Enchantment Theatre (Philadelphia) production of the same name loves what he does for a living. In addition to performing magic in a show specifically designed to feature his skills, he is able to work with his wife, Jennifer Blatchley Smith.
The play tells the story of a young magician, Alexi, who studied to be a magician in his small Russian village. He tells the audience, “”By the age of fourteen. I thought I knew everything I needed to know. But one morning, a circus came to town and the next morning, I left with them. I had so much more to learn.”
That learning process and his life story makes for an “enduring vision where human beings move by hard work, endurance, and a good heart into the realm of love and understanding,” says Philadelphia’s Weekly Press. “It may be mostly a vehicle for some of Landis Smith’s astonishing magic tricks, but oh, what a vehicle.”
Mr. and Mrs. Smith have worked together for the last 20 years revising and reworking their original production playing at The Iron Gate Theatre in West Philadelphia through this weekend. The show depicts a young man growing into his life and life’s work shown in scenes featuring illusions, dance, and classical music.
As Alexi matures, his magic grows in sophistication and variety.
Early on, a huge flowerpot transforms itself into a bouquet. A 15-inch needle stabs at and protrudes through a translucent balloon without bursting it. Little square scarves of red appear and disappear into thin air, and when they reappear, they are huge and multicolored or there are a string of them that are pulled endlessly from ear or mouth. A heavy rope knotted in the middle suddenly jumps upwards and twists and unknots itself without Alexi moving a muscle. A newspaper torn into tiny shreds becomes whole before you even blink.
Once Alexi comes to America — hoping for his big break and learning his new occupation is at Coney Island — his magic becomes larger and more spectacular.
The show comes full circle when the now mature and established Vaudeville star Alexi teaching a young boy how to perform a simple effect. “when he sits with a young boy and brings out the simple, small red scarf from the early scene in Russia, the audience instinctively understands that Alexi will be passing wisdom – which really is a kind of magic in that it takes lots of instruction, lots of practice, and tricks that aren’t apparent to the eye of the untutored – on to the next generation.”
The show offers a guide for teachers to discuss the themes and issues in the play; including a brief history of magic and Vaudeville. You can read the PDF version of the guide by clicking here.
Make sure you check out this show. Its rave reviews and few remaining performances almost guarantee a sell-out so order your tickets now. Iron Gate Theatre, 3700 Chestnut St. For ages 5 and up. Performances at 10 a.m. Weekdays, and 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. weekends. 215-881-9899 or http://www.enchantmenttheatre.org. Continue reading The Smiths Bring Magic to Philly
Do you recall a while back when we were all a buzz about a Midwestern Museum because they were fixing to expose Houdini’s Metamorphosis? We recall the buzz well — in fact, we still don’t have feeling in our little fingers.
Well another museum is going to teach kids about the science behind magic’s greatest illusions. But this time the major domos of our business aren’t protesting; they’re helping. So what’s up? Should we be buzzing?
The Oregon Museum of Science and Industry is presenting “Magic: The Science of Illusion” through September 5th. Families can learn the science behind mind reading, levitation and disembodied heads in the Magician’s Training Academy.
“‘Magic’ explores basic science concepts used in illusions. In the exhibit, visitors will learn how magicians use physics, math, engineering and psychology to create visual effects. Famous names in magic, such as Penn & Teller, Jade and Max Maven helped create parts of the OMSI exhibit.”
“The Amazing Living Head”: Introduced by Penn & Teller, you will see a human head kept alive in an unusual science lab. This head does it all — talk, wink and giggle.
“The Light and Heavy Chest”: A leather box is easy to carry until Jade says the magic words and the box is extremely heavy. Visitors learn the secret of this transformation.
“The Magic of the Mind”: Mind reader Max Maven speaks to visitors through a pre-recorded video, and strangely, he still can guess what they are thinking.
“The Rising Chair”: Visitors will be able to sit in a chair that rises through the air magically.
Should we start buzzing? We’re able to get to a good buzz-state within seconds so just give us the high-sign and we’ll look like a giant back massager with a bad haircut and attitude.
So we looked to the museum to see if there was real exposure. (We apologize if your firewall’s filtered out this article because of the proximity of “massager” and “exposure.” Oops, we just did it again).
First thing we figured out, the exhibit is a creation not of Oregon’s Museum of Science and Industry, but the California Science Center. (It’s in the small print and on the free magic tricks PDF). But there is no discussion of Magic’s most important rule – a magician never reveals his or her secrets.
So we kept searching — we were ready to buzz. In the last page of the magic trick hand-out you can read the following:
For students to perform this trick for other friends and family, they should practice until they can put the puzzle back together quickly. But remember ? a magician is not supposed to reveal the secrets of his or her trick!
Kristi Toguchi is an accomplished performer of both magic and dance with an incredible resume for someone of her young tenure.
You will be able to see her perform with San Diego’s Fern Street Circus this weekend. The high-energy circus began its run in April and will wind-up this weekend. You can check out the full schedule for this weekend’s shows in San Diego by visiting the Fern Street Circus website.
Ms. Toguchi was kind enough to take the time to tell us about her work in magic and dance, her early training, and what she enjoys the most.
The lithe performer tore a ligament in her right arm recently and was sidelined from some of the routines she expected to perform in the circus. Her physicians have pronounced her practically fit to return to her full form and she is anxious to take-up the physically demanding work of entertaining audiences.
Ms. Toguchi will perform with the Circus this weekend (Friday at 8:00pm; Saturday at 1:00 pm and 4:00 pm, and 8:00 pm; as well as Sunday at 1:00 pm and 4:00 pm.
As a third-generation magician from Hawaii, Ms. Toguchi’s immersion into our art began early and was supported consistently. Her father, Terry Toguchi, and grandfather, James Yoshida are magicians of international renown. Mr. Yoshida serves as a SAM International Ambassador, started the SAM in Hawaii and was the first magic dealer to bring products from Japan and Asia to the US.
Ms. Toguchi reflected on her training within such a rich magic tradition.
“I started doing magic in my family’s magic store at the age of 5 or so. Then at the age of 12 I began to study magic more seriously. I have worked with Fukai and Joanie Spina a lot. When I was 18 I went to New York City to pursue dance at the Alvin Ailey School of Dance.”
While training at the world famous Alvin Ailey School, Ms. Toguchi decided she did not need to give up one of her two passions – dance and magic – but could pursue them both. She moved to San Diego, received a Bachelors of Arts in Dance from U.C.S.D. and joined the Fern Street Circus.
Ms. Toguchi’s acts in the Circus featured her skills as a magician and an aerial acrobat – using tissue, aerial silks, and contortion.
Kristi and Lance – Two of a Kind
We asked if she enjoyed one art form more than another. “I can honestly say that dance is my passion. I love dancing and I think it will be a part of me for the rest of my life. Magic has been apart of my life from as far back as I can remember. It is such a beautiful thing to make people smile from just doing a single trick. It is so hard to choose. I don?t think there is one without the… Continue reading Kristi Toguchi: The Best of All Worlds
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