Showing posts with label # CM. Show all posts
Showing posts with label # CM. Show all posts

09 February 2024

A peek behind the curtain with Richard Young [2023]*

This is the sixth and last in a series of interviews leading up to the Champions of Magic Worldwide Wonder Tour dates in Western Canada:

Check the Champions of Magic website for updates.

 

* Regular readers of the blog may know that there's typically an elapsed time of weeks to months between us completing an interview and having it published.  Case in point.  Due in part to our densely packed December content calendar, we've held Richard's interview (which belongs to our 2023 series of Champions cast interviews that started last October) until now, ahead the Western Canada leg of their tour. 


Read our thoughts about their 2023 show in Toronto:

TLDR: So. Much. Fun!

Random thoughts about "Champions of Magic" 

 

In addition to Champions of Magic you may also know Richard Young through: 



We're delighted to interview Richard ahead of his Western Canadian Champions of Magic Worldwide Wonder Tour dates!


A peek behind the curtain with Richard Young



Do you remember the specific moment when you knew you could or wanted to perform magic full time?

September 17th 1995 when I saw David Copperfield’s show in Birmingham in the U.K. My Dad often tells the story that on the drive home that night I asked him if it would be at all possible for me to do something like that as a job when I grew up.
 
 
 
 
 
Have you studied anything magic-adjacent (eg. theatre, voice, musical instrument, acting, dance, art, movement, or photography)? 

I haven’t and I really wish I had. If I was to give any younger magician some advice it would be to go and learn all this stuff. It seems like a lot of fun and would have helped me so much over the years.
 
 


Richard Young listening to Sam Strange

Richard Young listening to Sam Strange
 
 
 
 
 
After seeing a recent Champions performance in Toronto, one of our readers thought they spotted a small but meaningful detail in the show, that you may have included as an homage to David Copperfield.  Is this an intentional 'Easter egg'?

I was thrilled someone spotted it. Absolutely. It’s supposed to showcase that I’m living my childhood dream in his shows following my tribute to him 15 minutes earlier.
 

 
 
 
The Champions show order changes from time to time, based on the constraints of the venue and the health of the performers.  We imagine that sometimes muscle memory reverts to the show order you do most often.   How do you and the rest of the cast and crew remind yourselves of set deviations?

In 2021 we were developing a lot of new material and the show was changing almost every night. It was stressful and frankly impossible to stay on top of. We have stage prompts printed on the stage floor and other similar techniques. I remember there was one night where I got the show order wrong, it happened to be on a night when there was no sound relay backstage and as I walked towards the stage I saw a scene playing out on the stage I was supposed to be in, without me in it!  
 

 


What's your go-to time filler if the crew needs you to stall for more time than "hands"++ provides?


We really do just have ‘hands’ to save some time. Anything needing more than that will be a show stop. We have only had a few of those over the years. Although it’s nice if you can fill a mistake or buy some time without the audiences noticing, a show stop is nothing to be embarrassed about, I’ve seen West End shows in London with show stops and as an audience member you appreciate they are stopping because they want you to see the best possible show rather than some sort of bodge job attempt to wrangle through. If you do hundreds of shows, there’s no way to avoid it. Eventually you’ll need to stop and restart.    

++ To learn more about "hands" have a listen to Episode 127 of Through the Magic of Television with host Alex McAleer, on Magicians' Podcast Network (Apple Podcasts link).
 
 
 




Richard Young, Champion of Magic

Richard Young, Champion of Magic

 




Do you have any guilty pleasures while on tour?

When we are touring I really miss British chocolate but honestly it’s probably good I can’t access it, keeping weight off while touring I find basically impossible. I don’t watch things, I tend to just find my head is completely immersed in what we are doing.
One imagines that it’s sometimes hard to leave the comforts of your home for a lengthy tour.  Do you bring a special something from home with you? 

I do indeed have a little mascot who travels with me. He’s a stuffed toy raccoon called Rufus, my girlfriend bought him for me when we visited a national park in Tucson, Arizona together. Unfortunately Rufus accidentally forgot to get inside my suitcase when I left a hotel in Los Angeles and despite many phone calls to the hotel after I left, he was not found. I however managed to find him for sale on a website and quickly had him sent to me by FedEx hoping my girlfriend would not notice he wasn’t exactly the same Rufus. She didn’t but eventually my conscious made me tell her the truth that Rufus is in fact now Rufus 2.0. 

 

 

Rufus

Rufus 2.0

 

 

Every performer has experienced some level of post-show blues.  Post-tour blues, we expect, are on a whole different level.  Do you have any tips for touring entertainers with respect to re-entering one’s non-touring life, after an extended time away from home?

It’s so so hard. Coming off the road and re-adjusting to a much slower pace of life for me personally takes quite a long time. When we finished after a 9 month solid tour in May 2023 I truly was burnt out and needed a break, but honestly that’s the first time I have ever felt like that. Usually I am sad when we finish and do worry a little about how I’m going to re-adjust. I have however learnt how to take care of myself. I immediately get my head into other work. I don’t take time off, I tend to actually have a lot of new energy I can place into podcasts or some other kind of creativity. The fact is for many of us this is the biggest part of our lives and so although sleep, no airports and less stress is welcome, life does feel a little empty when away from the road. I truly believe 1 year of touring is the equivalent life experiences to about 20 years of life for a normal person in terms to fun, emotional ups and downs and pure experiences.  


 
 
 
Is there anything else you’d like to share with the readers of Canada’s Magic?

We're really looking forward to sharing our show with your readers in Western Canada 



Thank you Richard, for making the time to answer our questions!

 

Learn more about Richard at RichardYoungMagic.com and check out his podcast at the Magicians' Podcast Network (Apple Podcasts link), and learn more about Bob Swadling's "Swadling Magic Changing Card" at Changing Cards.

 

 

 

  Champions of Magic  

Catch Richard in Champions of Magic touring in Western Canada this spring:

    Check the Champions of Magic website for updates.

 

Read our 2023 interviews with:

 
Learn more about Champions of Magic at ChampionsOfMagic.co.uk and follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter



Champions of Magic Worldwide Wonders Tour


 

 

 


02 February 2024

A peek behind the curtain with Murray SawChuck

We first saw Murray SawChuck in 2001 when he performed at the inaugural CAMaraderie convention.  To say he's been busy since then is an understatement.  

You may be aware that Murray:

  • is a headliner at Laugh Factory in Las Vegas
  • has appeared on and is a regular in many television shows (including Blind Date, Pawn Stars, and Masters of Illusion), 
  • has a comedy special, Itz Gone, Live from Las Vegas streaming on Tubi, 
  • has published the children's book At Nighttime, We’re All the Same Size available at Amazon, and
  • is on this week's episode of What's Going On? on The Magicians' Podcast Network talking about his move into exposure videos (this sure to be controversial episode requires a paid subscription and is available through Apple Podcasts or Spotify).
     


We're delighted to interview Murray ahead of his Brampton show at The Rose Theatre (tickets at Brampton.ca)!


A peek behind the curtain with Murray SawChuck


 
Who inspires you magically? 

Ironically not any magicians. I look at other entertainer that are MAGIC on stage but no neccasaryly perform magic. I look up to the Justin Timberlakes, Dolly Partons, Bruno Mars on how they walk on stage and how they leave their audiences in awe with selling their personalities. There are many great magicians tecnnically but not when they walk on stage. The magicians I looked up growing up and still do are Cardini, Tommy Cooper, Ballentine and Mr. Electric. Real personalities, brands and images.
 



Who inspires you that is not a magician? 

Dolly Parton, Bruno Mars, Jim Carrey, Justin Timberlake, William H. Macy, Lucy Ball, Liberace.

 


Murray SawChuck

 
 
 
 
Did you ever get discouraged and think about quitting magic?

Yes many times. Show business is not for the weak at heart. You will see mostly NOs but when the YESs come they are wonderful and they keep you going until the next YES between all the NOs! When you have a contract or job you are excited but while you are on that contact or job you have to be looking for the next gig or job or contract. It's like playing pool... when you are aiming to shoot the white ball to knock the other ball in the pocket you are working on where the white ball needs to  land after the shot so you have another good shot. Showbiz is just like that always looking at your next shot if you want to keep working in the business!. 
 

 
 
You studied music and you were a professional dancer.  You also earned a degree in Radio and Television, and Broadcasting with a minor in business.  How did these experiences impact both your magic business and your stage show? 

Well all of the above vocations are in show business, so each one taught me something that helped the other. I played music so I understand how music can change a mood or feeling when being presented on stage which makes a trick much more effective. Dancing I trained ballet for 11 years and that taught me how to walk on stage and present myself. Radio and Television Broadcasting taught me how to write copy for ads and press releases for publication as well as speak with a purpose. Having all these skills makes you a better personality and headliner.  
 


 
Do you have any tour or pre-show rituals?

I really don't... I am super relaxed before I go on stage. Once we fly in and upload out equipment and show props and set the stage that is the most nerve racking making sure nothing has broken during travel and setting it up right for the show. Usually I like to have a coffee before I walk on stage, send a few texts to my wife Dani and that's about it.. 



Murray SawChuck


 

 


What do you most look forward to, when you come back to Canada?
 
 I look forward to being back in my home country and  all the greenery and landscapes. In Las Vegas it's the desert... lots of sand and dry hills to look at! I can't wait to bring my show to Brampton!

You're a headliner at the Laugh Factory in Las Vegas, you've appeared on multiple television shows (including Blind Date, Pawn Stars, and Masters of Illusion), you have a  comedy special (Itz Gone, Live from Las Vegas) on TUBI, and you've written a children's book (At Nighttime, We’re All the Same Size).  Is it time to sit back and take it easy, or do you have other big projects in the works? 

I don't sit back very well and I am always five years behind where I'd like to be, so when people see things that I am doing or have done, they usually have been in the making quite a while. I would love my own sitcom or TV show where I could play a regular. I am a regular on Pawn Stars for the last 21 seasons and on CW's Masters Of Illusion for the last 10 years. I have my 2nd comedy special coming out the year we filmed last year and we are getting ready to film more Pawn Stars in February. So, YES I am always working on other projects and ideas. Keeps me young, motivated and focused. I just started this year my keynote talk called 'Find Your Magic' helping people figure out why they should be interested in going to work and staying interested. www.themagicalspeaker.com


 

Is there anything else you’d like to share with the readers of Canada’s Magic?

For anyone trying to make it in show business or magic, don't stop... you will fail, you will succeed but just remember everything is a new day and another shot at making your dream happen. Listen to yourself, your heart and your passion and stay focused. The more popular you get or famous the more people you find will love you as well as hate you... It's a double edge sword. Don't let people effect you as it's your life and your living it, not them.

 
 
Thank you Murray, for making the time to answer our questions!  Hopefully we'll get to see more Canadian dates on your schedule in the near future.

Learn more about Murray at his website MurrayMagic.com and follow him on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram

 

Catch Murray at The Rose Theatre in Brampton on March 2nd (tickets at Brampton.ca)! 

 

From the January 10th Facebook post by Brampton On Stage:

Direct from Pawn Stars and CW’s Masters Of Illusion, MURRAY THE MAGICIAN is bringing Vegas to YOU with magic that will blow your mind, performed live and up close at The Rose on March 2!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


25 January 2024

Random thoughts about Gerry Frenette's lecture and his memoir "My Life as a Magic Maker"

Last Thursday, IBM Ring 17 (the Sid Lorraine Hat and Rabbit Club) was treated to a lecture about the Psychology of Magic by club member Gerry Frenette!

As you may be aware Gerry:

 

      From the back cover:  

    Magic Makers Gerry and Leonora Frenette travelled internationally as headline entertainers, performing their original illusions for major cruise lines, magicians' conventions, corporate events, and at the famous Magic Castle in Hollywood. Gerry also designed and built stage apparatus for magicians worldwide. His creations have appeared on numerous TV shows including the Gemini Awards, America's Got Talent, Britain's Got Talent, and touring shows like The Champions of Magic, and more.



    We made the trek to the club on a cold January night, learned a lot, and had a really good time!  

     

    In his lecture, Gerry:

    • demonstrated how assumptions are a powerful tool to use and can sometimes be stronger than "proving" (proving can ruin the psychology of assumption)
    • showed many of the assumptions that can be involved when using a Vortex tube
    • did some magic with his assistant Gwendolyn the Psychic Chicken and showed us something that once fooled Jeff McBride
    • got knotty with a piece of rope
    • ran though some thoughts about using a card box
    • did a beautiful Coins Across for young volunteer Andrew
    • talked about illusion design and worked through examples of how to make an illusion look smaller than it is (showing examples with boxes, illusion bases, and mirror frames)
    • discussed the importance of looking at things from the perspective of the audience
    • showcased his poker skills against David S, Rob F, and two other volunteers (and teased a story from his book which describes how he almost lost big with this "always winning" poker routine),
    • shared some interesting sub trunk stories
    • highlighted more psychological sleights while performing his Chop Cup routine and Slydini Paper Balls for volunteer Nicole (and as a bonus tipped another story from the book, where he stayed in the moment with a drunk audience volunteer and performed an effect powerful enough to be considered a reputation maker!), and
    • talked about his recently released memoir "My Life as a Magic Maker" at Amazon!

      This book starts from his childhood in Amherst, Nova Scotia and is chock full of entertaining stories from Gerry's magic journey, including: early days of illusion building, working with Dean Gunnarson, CRA audits, being suspected of money laundering, thoughts on copycats & exposure, career highlights, a plethora of photos from the past, and more!

      (No magic secrets are revealed in this book.  It is intended for magicians and non-magicians alike!)

     

    It was an entertaining and informative night!  Thank you very much Gerry!




    --

    * What people are saying about "My Life as a Magic Maker" ...

     

    From the January 7th Facebook post by Matt DiSero:

     

     

    From the January 7th Facebook post by Blair Marshall:

    "Gerry Frenette  has put together a fun read with lots of photos of "the big stuff" ( no secrets though lol) and it's available through Amazon. 🙂"

     

    Customer reviews from Amazon:

    MScott - 5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating & fun to read!
    Reviewed in Canada on December 30, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Couldn’t put it down. As a lay person, I felt I stepped into the author’s entertaining world of magical illusions. Buy it & be amazed!

     

    Raman Sharma - 5.0 out of 5 stars One of the Best Books I have read in a long time!
    Reviewed in Canada on December 29, 2023
    It did not take me long to realize that this book is not just for Magician's. The author does a great job in making the reader live through his experiences. I definitely feel more inspired after having read this book, and will definitely be recommending it to my friends.

     

    Paul - 5.0 out of 5 stars Great book!
    Reviewed in Canada on January 4, 2024
    Interesting and fascinating to read all the way through!

     

     

      From the author:  

    "I've spent the last 40 years making magic on stage and in my workshop. All kinds of interesting, amusing, amazing, and downright hilarious things have happened. This recollection of colorful anecdotes and photographs is not only for magicians but for anybody who enjoys a captivating and inspiring story. It looks inside a unique career that started in a small Canadian town and grew to international recognition."

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Disclosure:  I received a free copy of "My Life as a Magic Maker." The opinions expressed above are entirely my own. I did not receive compensation for the writing or the publishing of this article.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    15 January 2024

    Random thoughts about "An Evening of Magic Shop Memories"

    Last Saturday, Jeff Pinsky hosted "An Evening of Magic Shop Memories" at The Browser's Den of Magic.

    It was a lovely way to spend an evening!

    We heard stories from: 

    • Mike Segal
    • Greg Hobor
    • Richard Lyn
    • Nicole Lee
    • Dick Joiner
    • Mike King
    • David Sutherland
    • Gordon Precious -- who, as an added bonus performed 2 effects for us!
    • Colin Geddes
    • David Peck
    • Jeff Hinchliffe,
    • Sammy Jakubowicz, and
    • our host Jeff Pinsky


    Stories told included Magic Masters, Daytona Magic, Macy's, The Arcade, The Den (on Bloor across from Varsity Arena, above Yuk Yuk's, Bathurst and Eglinton, and now!), Morrissey's (Montreal and Toronto) and even Marie & Jack Hughes living room in London, England!  They also included names like Sophie Smith, Len & Bernice Cooper, Herb & Dan Morrissey, Henry Gordon, Jay Sankey, Gary Kurtz, David Ben, Mark Lewis, David Mitchell, Danny Tsukalis, Steve Martin, Jim Carey, Keanu Reeves, and more!

     

    Did you know that:

    • Bernice Cooper often baby sat a Toronto magician's son at the store?
    • Dick Joiner first saw Mark Lewis in England?
    • David Copperfield once ended his grand illusion show in Toronto with "What's Next?" 
    • Keanu Reeves used to hang out at The Browser's Den of Magic?
    • There used to be a Canadian 25 cent bill!

     

    Thank you older Jeff, for conceiving and hosting this wonderful evening of sharing!



    From the January 14th Facebook post by Greg Hobor at The Browser's Den of Magic Facebook group:

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    30 December 2023

    A peek behind the curtain with Potted Potter Toronto [2023]

    A peek behind the curtain with Potted Potter FB


    A peek behind the curtain with Potted Potter



    We're delighted to bring to you a brief interview with the Toronto Performers of Potted Potter, Josephine Starte, Lottie Bell, and Amelia Gann.


    Potted Potter in Toronto

    Amelia Gann as Harry (left) and Lottie Bell as Voldemort

     

    What is your first memory of magic?  How old were you?

    Josephine:  I changed primary schools when I was 6 and immediately started a very popular flying club, which centred around doing spells on each other and then jumping off tables at playtime. It was very serious, there were tests, and certificates. I sort of believed I was really flying and really passing on my great wisdom, and I sort of knew I was lying. And then I became an actor.



    Josephine Starte

    Josephine Starte

     



    Each of you perform an effect that some professional magicians also have in their shows.  What was your experience learning how to do magic for Potted Potter?

    Lottie:  Chaotic. I mean I struggle with magic tricks in the real world. So I didn’t ever perform magic tricks on anyone before the show. However, ironically, I love doing them as Lord Voldemort in the show because I can add Voldemort’s cheeky humour to the trick! Even though he’s evil it’s the one time that Voldemort gets the audience's support and that really does help my confidence in the trick so thank you to Lord Voldemort and all his fans! (in that moment). 



    Lottie Bell

    Lottie Bell

     

     

    Do you want to learn how to do any additional magic tricks? 

    Amelia:  Absolutely! It's an aspect of performance I hadn't experienced before this project so I'm looking forward to improving my showmanship and slick delivery, especially with cards - as there's so much to learn and try out! Maybe if I build up my repertoire we can bring some new tricks into each show. 

     

    Amelia Gann

    Amelia Gann
     

     
     
    Were there any hurdles or obstacles you needed to overcome, in order to perform a script originally written for an all male cast? 

    Josephine:  The script changed a tiny bit, like the odd word here and there, and I think we possibly perform more characters than the guys as a result. But broadly it’s exactly the same show on paper, and it works brilliantly because there was always gender flipping (read: lots of wigs) in Potted Potter, the guys always played Hermione, Ginny etc, so that license to be flexible with gender is baked in. I mean, it was never a searing, naturalistic kitchen-sink drama about men being manly, it’s always been two delusional clowns throwing water at each other and pretending to be wizards. So it never occurred to me that those roles couldn’t be women. They just need to be really stupid (hello). 

     

    What do you enjoy most about Potted Potter?

    Josephine:   I love the audiences we get and how they respond to all the interactive bits, how generous they are. We’ve been so lucky, we’ve only ever had the nicest, wildest audiences, everyone’s always up for a good time when they come. It’s pure joy. I also love when young people seek us out after shows to talk about acting and comedy, it’s fantastic to be around for those light bulb moments. 


     

    Performing the same show over and over can get tedious.  What do you do to keep your performance fresh for both your audience and you?

    Lottie:  I have ADHD so for me personally as a performer I need to be always finding new things and I feel the audience really helps with this especially in the live Quidditch that everyone gets involved in, so it does help with this show that it is different every night - there’s always a surprise! 

     

     

    How much of the show is scripted and how much is improvised?

    Lottie:  The show's script came from a lot of ad-libbing and improv from our writers Dan and Jeff and then they’ve taken bits of ad-lib from further performers whilst either performing or rehearsing and popped it in the show. That’s another big reason why I love working on this show because the team behind it are all so supportive of their actors. It gives the actors a real freedom to play and make choices in the space creating the spontaneous and witty comedy in the show. Now that's real magic!

     

     

     Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?

    Amelia:  Well it's been lovely to chat to you and we hope that you are intrigued to come and join in with the magical chaos that is Potted Potter. Expect the unexpected, silliness, games, perhaps a bit of audience participation (if you're brave enough). And please tell us all your magic secrets after the show!
     
     


    Thank you Josephine, Lottie, and Amelia, for making the time to answer our questions! 
     
     

    Potted Potter runs until January 14, 2024.  Tickets are available from Live Nation.


    Potted Potter in Toronto

     

    Potted Potter: The Unauthorized Harry Experience – A Parody by Dan and Jeff is flying back to Toronto!

    Seen by over a million muggles around the world Potted Potter has fans flying off their seats (or broomsticks) with laughter and for the first time in North America the Toronto production will feature an all-female cast. Lottie Bell and Josephine Starte will lead the run with Hanna Berrigan swooping in as Associate Director. The cleverly curated show features perfect Potter props complete with wand and sorting hat, appearances from your favourite characters, and a live Quidditch match!






     

     

     

     

    29 December 2023

    Random thoughts about "Champions of Magic" 2023

    Catch Champions of Magic in Toronto, until December 31st.  Tickets at Ticketmaster.  

      Additional Canadian dates:  
    Check the Champions of Magic website for updates.


     

    Yesterday afternoon, KOP and I made the trek to Toronto's Meridian Hall.  

    • The last time we were at Meridian Hall it was called the Sony Centre and it was to see Darcy Oake's show "Edge of Reality" in 2015.  (Although we're still likely to refer to it as the O'Keefe Centre or possibly even the Hummingbird Centre.)
    • All of the theatre staff were super helpful, professional, and generally fabulous! 
    • While not mandatory, a good number of the patrons and ushers were masked.
    • The show is about an hour for the first half, with a 16 minute intermission, and about an hour in the second half.
    • As always with this show I am genuinely afraid of posting spoilers.  The less you know going in, the more you'll enjoy it.

     

     

    On with the show...

    Note to parents of young children:  The music can be very loud at times throughout the show.  There's also a smoke machine involved.  Forewarned is forearmed.

    There's a videographer on hand to capture close-up miracles and project them nice and big on a screen so everyone can see!

    (In yesterday's show, there were three screens in play.  One on the main stage and one each to the left and right of the stage.)

     

     

    Regular readers of the blog have probably guessed that this would be our summary of the show:

    So. Much. Fun!


    • The audience arrived ready for a fun time.  There were plenty of children in the audience and some families came in from as far as Bomanville to catch the show!  They were rooting for the performers from the get-go and the cast had the crowd eating out of their hands by the end of the show!
       
    • It felt like there was an exponential increase in production values for this run, in comparison to the shows we've seen previously.  There were more lights, the lights did fancier things, and there were additions to the sound track that really enhanced the visuals.  (And for those in the know, yes, the fun extra bits are still there too.)

    • There was a unexpected change in cast.  We were crushed when we learned that Alex McAleer was unable to do the show.  We were really looking forward to getting another look at his beautifully constructed homage to Keller that we first saw in Kitchener last year
       
    • Stepping in for McAleer was Kent Axell.  This was our first time seeing Axell and we were very impressed!

    • Hollie England, Kent Axell, Fernando Velasco, Richard Young and Sam Strange all do what they do very well! 

    If memory serves, there are no standard card tricks in the show!
    • This show is very different from the one presented in Oshawa in 2019, and significantly different than the one mounted in Toronto in 2018.  Much of the content is similar to the 2022 show we saw in Kitchener, with the added bonus that with every passing year, the cast are more authentic and the show feels more organic.  Which translates to a demonstrable increase in entertainment value!
       
    • There are several whole cast moments, which make the show less of a patchwork piece and more of a thoughtfully woven production.

    • There's LOTS audience participation with both children and adults!  By our count, 16 volunteers were involved.

    • The show is absolutely visually stunning!

    Whether you're new to magic or are a professional magician, there's something for everyone!

    • Axell demonstrated some baffling mentalism and his 9 year old volunteer James was an absolute star!

    • England showcased a strong skill set and talent that is intensely theatrical!  She really brought the heat (through fire!) in her set and I'll never look at a cup of tea the same way again.
       
    • For those who have seen the show already, not to worry!  The cornerstone crowd-pleasers are still in the show, tweaked and refined!

    • Aerialist Michelle Mazzarella amazed and dazzled from above.

    • Velasco succeeded in breathtaking, heart-stopping escapes and then some.  Even though I've seen him do many of these things before, everything he does makes me nervous!

    • Young and Strange have carefully pruned their wonderful grand illusions and introduced some new things in their place.  Even after having seen them perform a similar set thrice before, Young and Strange are remarkably entertaining to watch.  One can't help but get caught up in the fun they are having on stage!  Their collaborative piece with Velasco  has a very strong audience reaction.  As a bonus, they were able to stage a couple of effects we'd read about on social media but had never seen them perform live.  It was well worth the wait to see it live on stage!


    While excellent magic is at the core of this experience, it's clear that the focus is providing a fabulously entertaining evening.

    They definitely hit their mark!


    • This was the fourth time seeing the show in the last 5 years and we were thoroughly entertained!  There are so many moments of joyous laughter, and periods of being completely enthralled in the spectacle.

    • It is clear that the acts and the scripts are a work in progress and continue to be thoughtfully curated, updated, and revised.  It gets better every time!
        
    We highly recommend it!
    (Even if you've seen it before.)

     

     

     

    Disclosure:  KOP and I were guests at this show. The opinions expressed above are entirely my own. I did not receive compensation for the writing or the publishing of this article.

    With thanks to
    Starvox Entertainment for the tickets.

     

     

      Champions of Magic  

    Champions of Magic is touring across Canada in 2023 - 2024:

    Check the Champions of Magic website for updates.

     

    Read our 2023 interviews with:

     
    Learn more about Champions of Magic at ChampionsOfMagic.co.uk and follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter



    Champions of Magic Worldwide Wonders Tour