NEXT EVENT
28/03/2024 20:00
AGM

LATEST NEWS
Our 70th year of magic
WHO ARE WE  |  HOW TO JOIN US  |  WHERE DO WE MEET  |  DIARY  |  MEET THE COUNCIL  |  MEET THE MEMBERS  |  PHOTO GALLERY
NEWSLETTERS  |  FIND A MAGICIAN  |  BOOK US FOR A SHOW  |  HISTORY  |  RULES  |  COMPETITIONS  |  LINKS  |  MEMBERS AREA
NEWSLETTERS
New Newsletters


November 2022 (10mb)
 


October 2022 (47mb)


September 2022 (57mb)


eUpdates
102 - October 2013
101 - October 2013
100 - October 2013
99 - September 2013
98 - August 2013
97 - August 2013
96 - July 2013
95 - July 2013
94 - July 2013
93 - June 2013
92 - June 2013
91 - May 2013
90 - May 2013
89 - April 2013
88 - September 2013
87 - March 2013
86 - March 2013
85 - February 2013
84 - January 2013
83 - January 2013
82 - November 2012
81 - July 2012
80 - October 2012
79 - October 2012
78 - October 2012
77 - September 2012
76 - August 2012
75 - July 2012
74 - July 2012
73 - July 2012
72 - June 2012
71 - June 2012
70 - May 2012
69 - May 2012
68 - January 2012
67 - April 2012
66 - April 2012
65 - March 2012
64 - March 2012
63 - January 2012
62 - January 2012
61 - November 2011
60 - November 2011
59 - October 2011
58 - October 2011
57 - September 2011
56 - August 2011
55 - October 2011
54 - July 2011
53 - July 2011
52 - June 2011
51 - June 2011
50 - May 2011
49 - May 2011
48 - April 2011
47 - April 2011
46 - March 2011
45 - February 2011
44 - February 2011
43 - February 2011
42 - January 2011
41 - November 2011
40 - August 2010
39 - November 2010
38 - September 2010
37 - October 2010
36 - October 2010
35 - September 2010
34 - July 2010
33 - August 2010
32 - November 2010
31 - June 2010
30 - April 2010
29 - March 2010
28 - April 2010
27 - March 2010
26 - March 2010
25 - February 2010
24 - February 2010
23 - January 2010
22 - January 2010
21 - January 2010
20 - January 2010
19 - November 2009
18 - November 2009
17 - January 2009
16 - July 2009
14 - September 2009
13 - September 2009
12 - August 2009
11 - November 2009
10 - July 2009
9 - June 2009
8 - June 2009
7 - June 2009
6 - May 2009
5 - May 2009
4 - April 2009
3 - March 2009
2 - March 2009
1 - March 2009


Newsletters

Newsletter: 23
May 2008

Printable version.

Close-Up Competition, May 22nd 2008

Seven contestants battled it out at the Sussex Magic Circle Close-Up Competition.

Here follows an overview of their performances: Apologies in advance if I have missed out any of the many and different effects performed.

The night commenced with an audition from Marcus Lewis one of the "smoke and mirrors" team. Very strong card magic being an excellent opener to the evening.

1) Ross (Rooster) Robertson: A very direct book test-I chose a random word, Ross told me what it was. No probing for clues, no cards or dice used to choose the page, very clean. A slick pen through note. A linking ring routine with three key rings that was flawless. The rings were examinable before and after. It was simply impossible to see how this was done. An elastic band routine involving a spectator-the "crazy man?s handcuffs", again executed to perfection-this is clearly a standard in Ross?s repertoire. A high level of sleight of hand skill from one of the club?s accomplished performers.

2) Leon Simmonds commenced with a dynamic coins routine with a relaxed patter story. A coin routine that involved appearances, transpositions and a giant coin production. Very polished-excellent misdirection. A card discovery that used a one hand shift and card spin out was performed in a confident manner. Leon finished his act with a chop cup routine-rubber ball production followed by a lemon.

3) Sue Leacy: Sue commenced her act with a sponge ball routine that she regularly performs. Good timing and experience shone through. A mentalism routine followed with Flavia divining a thought of film from a choice of 100. Flavia being Sue?s puppet assistant, complete with American accent-quirky, unusual and baffling. A book test joke which was over the heads of most people was followed by a card revelation. Sue sought assistance for this effect from Stanley, her pet dog, who barked the card identity down her mobile phone. Very funny. Sue?s final, very theatrical effect with a Phantom of the Opera theme, complete with musical accompaniment involved a miniature rose production, a music scroll production and a Phantom Mask production.

4) John Holden was an instant hit with his character Frenchman act. False moustache, stripy jumper and a French greeting were responded to by the French speakers in the audience. A colour changing deck routine was followed by colour changing CDs. John?s final effect was a multiple silk production from a metal cabinet. The strongest part of John?s act was the rapport he has with his audience. Winning over an audience with your personality, is far more important than the effects you perform. Well done John. Look forward to seeing you perform again.

5) Paul Bromley: Paul performed a a flash money production, a prediction with borrowed objects and a comedy card revelation with an invisible caterpillar. Paul stands out as a gentleman performer. Always smart, well spoken and articulate, he is very bookable.

6) Daniel Edwards performed a thought of card effect which completely floored me. He did, later in the evening, demonstrate how this was done and the method was diabolical. Before this he performed a coin disappearance from underneath a glass tumbler, the coin appearing in his mouth-very David Blaine. Dan finished with a magic square prediction. Dan did very well and we look forward to seeing him perform again.

7) Matt Parro stamped his authority on the evening with a wine bottle production, a coke can from his shoe which fooled me completely a flash card discovery - the chosen card appearing between two cards, and a bullet catch. Yes, you read it right. A bullet catch. As always Matt pushes the boundaries of magic and performance. Spectacular.
The winner of the competition was Leon. Very well deserved with a skilful confident performance. Well done to everyone who performed. An excellent evening.

Paul Leacy

Complied by: Stuart Harley

Back
© THE SUSSEX MAGIC CIRCLE 2024