Mike Segal on The Magic Broadcast tonight!

That's 9:30 Eastern Standard Time!

Ep.2 of @aaronfishercard's radio show Card Man tonight @ 6:30pmPST w/ special guest @MagicMikeSegal ! #CampStories http://t.co/YvPnX7ehEb
— Sorcerers Safari (@SorcerersSafari) June 13, 2013

[Guest post] Keith Brown - Exchange

The following is a guest post from James Alan.

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Keith Brown - Exchange
June 7 - 16, 2013, various times
The London Fringe Festival
@The ARTS Project, 203 Dundas St (map)

There are two things that will get me to drive 200km to London and one of them is Keith Brown. (I won't tell you what the other one is, because whatever you're imagining right now is probably much cooler.)

Full Disclosure: Keith is a friend, we recently participated in a magic competition together where he beat me by two percentage points. He's also performed for Abracadabaret in the past and will be joining us again at the end of the month.

I have also done magic shows at the Fringe and I know they can be very stressful. Your entire show has to be set up, on stage, ready to go, usually in about fifteen minutes, and you have to clear the stage completely after every show and start from scratch every time.

I went to see the show with Nick Wallace, who's created three distinct shows for the Fringe over the years. As the doors closed, we looked around us and couldn't see a single empty seat. I leaned over and whispered, "Have you ever seen anyone sell out a late Monday night Fringe show?" "No, have you?" "No." Awkward silence.

I've seen Keith's show twice before, once at the Fringe and once as a self mounted production. Half of the show was new, which is not saying much because the 45 minute show only contains five pieces. It's all mentalism except for Houdini's Needle Swallowing trick.

Still, at that relaxed pace, there's no sense that anything drags. There's an innocent youthful charm that pervades everything. And even though he's swallowing needles, everything is in good taste, even the fart joke.

The title of the show, "Exchange", is apt because the audience participation makes the show and most of the applause goes to those who are chosen and volunteer. There are also several gentle nudges for participants to push their comfort zone, including one audience member drinking pure white vinegar.

While the show itself is fun and moves along at a good pace, it's not much to look at. Keith is wearing a charcoal suit on a stage with black chairs, a table with a black cloth on a black floor in a room with black curtains and black walls. The only colour in the show come from his tie, the blue latex gloves and the the carrot (it's not what you think.) But I realize the bare bones blank box feel is part of Fringe. If you want bright and colour full, The ARTS Project is also a cool little gallery which you can wander around before and after the show.

If London's not too far out of your way, go see this. Although, if Monday night is any indication, it looks like tickets for the last three shows will be hard to come by.

Three shows left:
June 14 - 5:00 PM
June 15 - 9:30 PM
June 16 - 3:00 PM

Tickets $15 ($10 if you have a London Fringe Backer Button)

Note that the Fringe operates under very strict rules and latecomers will not be admitted.

-James Alan

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Thank you James for guest posting at Canada's Magic!

Broken wand: Andrew Philip

Recently we were notified by Dennis Schick, the editor of the Broken Wand in the International Brotherhood of Magician's magazine, The Linking Ring, of the passing of Andrew Philip. Dennis is graciously allowing me to pass this on to you. 

 

Dennis also pointed out that the more ALL of us share news and information about magic with the REST of us, the better off the entire magic community will be. 

 

I take this opportunity to ask you to not just ASSUME that we already know about some magic news that YOU hear about. Please tell us about it. We would always rather hear some news SEVERAL times rather than not at all!

 

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Andrew Philip

 

Andrew (Andy) William Philip, 50, of Unionville, Ontario, Canada, died February 16, 2013. He was a former member of the I.B.M. (1986-2000). A high school math teacher introduced him to magic, and they became life-long friends. Although diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease as a teenager, he was never without cards and coins everywhere he went. He was a finance manager at I.B.M. Canada for seventeen years until his health prevented him from working any longer. With magic he was obsessed with presentation and crafting scripts, and he loved performing for children, especially at the family cottage in Port Elgin. Survivors include his wife of twenty-four years, Kim, and their children David and Danielle.

 

 

Sheldon Casavant explored the impossible

For those keeping track, Sheldon is also Sorcerers Safari alumni!

From Art Starts:

On Sunday, the New Westminster Quay was filled with anticipation and excitement as ArtStarts launched its very first event at River Market. It was a full house, with magician Sheldon Casavant who delighted audiences with two 45-minute magical performances/workshops titled Exploring the Impossible.

Read more.

In the news: Holden Lumbard and Brett Chrest

Sorcerers Safari campers in the news!

From the Brandon Sun:

If it wasn’t for their youthful faces, you would think Holden Lumbard and Brett Chrest were seasoned magicians performing in a large amphitheatre to hundreds of stunned and astounded audience members.

Evolution Entertainer magicians and business partners, 14-year-old Lumbard and 15-year-old Chrest started their magic act up at the end of the year and are now the latest and the greatest on the event entertainment list, doing everything from birthday parties to corporate get-togethers.

Read more.

Phoenix: Simply Magical

July 17-20

From the IBM:

Congratulations to Shawn Farquhar, Talent Chairman of the Eighty-fifth Annual Phoenix I.B.M. Convention, for putting together an outstanding lineup. You won’t want to miss being part of this magical event.

Read more.

And don't forget about the Lance Burton Teen Seminar, July 15-17:

A special pre-convention event for our young magicians ages 13-19.  This event will begin at 7:00pm on Monday , July 15 and run through lunch on Wednesday, July 17.  This unique event featuring Lance Burton, Jeff McBride and Eugene Burger will also have guest lectures and sessions from Shawn Farquhar, Oscar Munoz, Larry Haas and Bryce Kuhlman.  The best news – there is NO EXTRA CHARGE for this event if you are registered for the convention.

Broken wand: Raymond Massecar

From Your Life Moments:

Raymond Massecar

MASSECAR, Raymond Earl of St. Thomas, passed away peacefully, surrounded in his final hours by his loving family on Monday, February 4th, 2013, at the St. Thomas-Elgin General Hospital, in his 88th year. Beloved husband and best friend of 57 years of Marion (Robinson) Massecar and dearly loved father of Leo and his wife Wendy Massecar of St. Thomas, Ed Massecar of Mississauga, Mary Lou Weber and her husband Chuck of St. Thomas and Brian Massecar of St. Thomas. Much loved grandfather of Shawn (Natalie) and Lindsey Hardy (Rich). Predeceased by a grandson Robbie. Loved great grandfather of Liam and Lincoln. Predeceased by 3 brothers Gordon, Howard and Donald Massecar. Sadly missed by a number of nieces and nephews. Ray was born in Waterford on June 20th, 1925, the son of the late Earl and Grace (Warwick) Massecar. He was retired from Magna (1985). Ray served overseas with the army during W.W.II. He was a member of Grace United Church and a former member of the Kinsmen Club and the Knights of Pythias and the International Brotherhood of Magicians.

Read more.

[With thanks to Dennis Schick for passing this information along.]