This is the fourth in a series of interviews leading up to the Champions of Magic Worldwide Wonder Tour Canadian dates in:
- Toronto, Ticketmaster [Dec 27 - 31] ** extended to Dec 31 **
- Lethbridge, Enmax Centre [Mar 16]
- Regina, Conexus Arts Centre [Mar 17]
-
Winnipeg, Centennial Concert Hall [Mar 18]
- Saskatoon, TCU Place [Mar 19]
- Lloydminster, Vic Juba Theatre [Mar 20] ** recently added **
- Edmonton, Festival Place [Mar 22 - Apr 6]
- Prince George, CN Centre [Apr 7]
- Vancouver, Great Canadian Casino [Apr 8] ** recently added **
Additional rumoured locations include cities in BC and NS! Check the Champions of Magic website for updates.
In addition to his stage shows, you may know Alex McAleer through:
- his book This Book Will Read Your Mind,
- his mentalism offerings (under the name Alexander Marsh and available at The 1914 as well as other magic shops including The Browser's Den of Magic), or
- his weekly podcast Through the Magic of Television (also available on Apple Podcasts) which is part of Richard Young's Magicians' Podcast Network (Apple Podcasts link). In his podcast Alex, along with the help of a special guest, reminisces about iconic magic TV shows from the past.
We're delighted to interview Alex ahead of his Canadian Champions of Magic Worldwide Wonder Tour dates!
We were fortunate to see Champions of Magic in three times in the
past five years. Your part in the show changed significantly from year
to year. In fact the 2022 experience was almost completely different
from the first time we saw you in Toronto in 2018.
When you have an audience tested, well-received show, what drives you to modify and advance your act?
When you have an audience tested, well-received show, what drives you to modify and advance your act?
It’s very tempting to just do the tricks and lines you’ve been doing for
years, and the temptation is even greater when you’re waiting in the wings
about to go on stage and do a new routine. It’s very rewarding however to keep
things fresh, in my own act there are sections that are brand new every night
so I have to think on my feet.
I think what drives me to make changes is not wanting things to become stale, and it’s always fun to tinker and improve each performance of a new routine.
Have you studied any magic-adjacent disciplines?
I’ve studied various other skills that have all informed my performances.
Theatre work when I was younger and performing in plays, readings, even
panto! I’ve also studied a bit of comedy writing and physical comedy. I also
went to Art School so that's given me an interest in aesthetics.
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Alex on stage with an audience member keeping Alex's eyes shut |
Do you remember the specific moment when you knew you could or wanted
to perform magic full time?
I think it was probably after my first “show” - I did a twenty minute show
on stage in between some one-act plays in my hometown. The show I did was
dreadful in hindsight but the audience really responded to it; this shy
young man they all knew could now apparently read minds and hold a room’s
attention.
What is your most memorable performance misadventure?
Probably when a prop we were using in Champions malfunctioned and the
‘big prediction moment’ I had been teasing throughout the show just didn’t
happen. Foolishly, there was no out. I just had to move onto the next, much
smaller and less significant, part of the prediction.
What sets Champions of Magic apart from other touring ensemble magic
shows?
I think it’s probably that you’re seeing a full show, not just a series of
different acts doing their own thing. There are multiple moments when we are
all working together on stage, or involved in another performer's act.
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Alex on stage |
Do you have any guilty pleasures while on tour?
Vegan junk food. Vegan Poutine is always a highlight for a trip to the true north.
Vegan junk food. Vegan Poutine is always a highlight for a trip to the true north.
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?
As silly as it may sound but having a VPN on my iPad means I can enjoy the
comforts of UK television.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with the readers of Canada’s
Magic?
Subscribe to the Magicians' Podcast Network
(Apple Podcasts link)
to hear my nostalgic-rewatch-podcast Through the Magic of Television (Apple Podcasts link)
. Oh and I guess you can listen to
[Richard] Young’s podcasts
on there too.
[Editor's note: These podcasts require a paid subscription.]
[Editor's note: These podcasts require a paid subscription.]
Thank you Alex, for making the time to answer our questions!
Learn more about Alex at
AlexMcAleer.com and follow him
on
Facebook, and
Instagram.
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