Stage Competition

7 February 2006

Mark Worgan introduced the evening by reading out a letter from Pat Pannell thanking us for the flowers and kind thoughts.

Paul Gordon stood up and unashamedly advertised his forthcoming lecture for the next meeting on the 2nd February.

Mark also informed us of a balloon day next week in Surrey.

Ali Ceurvorst's audition was tonight's first performance and he started with a mentalism routine involving four chairs and four spectators. Andy Hart, Stuart, John Schofield and Paul Gordon had a choice of any chair; Ali correctly chose the one that no one sat in. He then asked for a choice out of three different colour packs of cards. This was given multiple cuts and each helper chose a card, Ali then divined who had what card successfully. His last effect went a bit awry but nevertheless his confidence and presentation won us all over. Although a little longwinded for some, this was a good audition for a lad of only 14 years.

Andrew Jeffrey was first up in the Stage and Cabaret Competition with, he told us, something old and new. The new part was a 2012 Olympic prediction of the new game for that year - Noughts and Crosses, which various people played. Andrew then took out a recent photograph showing in the background the very same pattern as the noughts and crosses game he just played. For his next effect, Matt Parr was asked to choose any can from a box and Brenda choose a coin from a selection. Armed with a £1 coin and a coke can Andrew managed to get the £1 coin to penetrate the can. We could all hear it rattle and saw it drop out when he emptied it into a glass. Next, three spectators were asked for a word, picture and a number which Andrew then guessed correctly. He finished by shaking the coke can, which resealed itself and filled back up.

Stuart Harley started with a lovely rhyming effect involving cards with alcoholic drinks written on them, which finally produced a bottle of gin, bottle of tonic and a lemon. He then went to the straightjacket escape during which he told some awful one-liners, but he managed to get out accompanied by some interesting pieces of music. Stuart's next effect was lovely. We all watched aghast as he built in front of us a beautiful money printer made of varnished wood. From this he magically printed various currencies

English pounds, American dollars, note at an angle, notes with bits missing and then, separately, the missing piece and finally had his tie trapped, printed and had to cut it off. Fascinating.

Mike Pettitt had a very flowery routine starting with a match to flower and going on to 3 flowers with hoods on, these were shuffled and he finally predicted where each one was, red, white and blue. Then with 2 young helpers, Ali and Harry, there were pictures of flowers, red and yellow. The pictures changed over. Then 5 pieces of plain card produced 5 flowers. He then took 4 away. The one remaining matched the secret one, which was in Ali's hand.

Five flower names were randomly given out to 4 helpers and Mike, who then bought out 5 envelopes that were shuffled. Each helper chose an envelope which contained a small prize, needless to say, Mike won 1st prize.

Matt Parr started with a card trick with added sound and a bad Elton John impression of 'Rocket Man'.

Matt Wainwright and Stuart Harley selected a card and put it back. They used a telescope to correctly guess the card.

Then Matt performed his 'wallet burner' illusion, together with a chair, a chain and a padlock. Chained up on the chair and blindfolded with a cover he escaped to atmospheric music just before his wallet burst into flames! Matt then performed a floating stick and light show.

The evening finished up with Andrew Jeffrey winning in a close fought competition. Well done all.

GB

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