03 January 2015

Review: The Conjuror

Reminder: The Conjuror ends on January 4.

The Conjuror David Ben showed off some family-friendly hocus pocus at Toronto’s Young Centre for the Performing Arts. Watching The Conjuror in action was a enchanting way to welcome the new year for me and my little companion.

Set in 1909 at London’s St. George’s Hall, the show was a mesmerizing series of magic feats typical of the Golden Age of Magic: we saw a person being sawed in half (ouch!), a handkerchief playing hide and seek, and an egg being thrown around without breaking.

The set was simple. We did not see a flashy David Copperfield-style spectacle, but instead saw classic acts performed against a relatively plain background. No neon lights or booming music. As a result, we were successfully transported to an early 20th century London stage.

Read more.

FCM Q&A with Shawn Farquhar and Ice McDonald

From Daz Buckley's Facebook photo:




02 January 2015

Toronto: Browser's magic club meeting reminder

From the Browser's Den mail out:
Magic Club Meeting is this Sat. Jan. 3, 2015 from 2:30 to 5:30pm. 

[Guest post] Magic Magazine: January 2015

The following is a guest post from an author who wishes to be known as The Magic Demon.

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Magic Magazine always makes good reading but the current issue contains noteworthy Canadian content.

First and foremost, a feature profile of the award winning Canadian photographer, cinematographer, magician and Ellusionist production manager Peter McKinnon. It is eloquently penned by the multi-talented Vancouver magician Jamie D. Grant.

Peter McKinnon's inventive photographic work is well known within the magic community. Magic Magazine's September 2014 cover was his; and if you've ever seen any special deck of playing cards advertised in an unusual or attention-grabbing way in the last decade or so, chances are it was also one of Peter's photos or videos.

It was just about ten years ago that Peter McKinnon was cutting college classes and hanging out at the Browser's Den of Magic in Toronto. Today he bases his internationally acclaimed photographic work out of both Toronto and San Francisco. He usually manages to combine his love for magic with his awesome creativity in the visual arts. It's an inspiring story.

Secondly: Prominent within the article is a whimsical photo of Jeff Pinsky, owner of The Browser's Den of Magic in Toronto. It was originally part of Peter McKinnon's compelling and idiosyncratic "Plaid Chair" online project. It seems a fitting salute to the man behind the b&m magic store which perhaps initially helped to energize Peter's impressive career.

Editor's notes:
  • Visit the Browser's Den Facebook group to see Peter Mennie's post which inspired Wilson to comment "So this is how Harry Potter looks like when he grows up"
  • Read Peter's thoughts about Jeff over at The Plaid Chair (in keeping with Wilson's comment above, the photo is filed under "Hogwarts")

Thirdly (and finally) in this issue: Ian Rowland's always must-read "Loving Mentalism" column features a fun and quirky mentalism effect contributed by John Pellatt, known to readers of this blog as the founder/curator of the Johnny Giordmaine tribute site. John credits fellow Canadian Patrik Kuffs for inspiring the creation of his original mentalism effect/routine. It is called "Expresso ESP" and described as "a seemingly impromptu experiment in mindreading suitable for informal occasions."

So, not bad for Magic Magazine's first issue of 2015. In fact, it's a Canadian magical hat-trick!




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Thank you The Magic Demon for guest posting at Canada's Magic!



Who's Where January 2015

Leave a comment on this post to let us know where you're going to be this month!
  • The Conjuror wraps up its run in Toronto
  • Potted Potter wraps up its run in Toronto
  • Bill Abbott and Bobby Motta are back at Dave and Busters Vaughan
  • Magic Mondays with James Jordan in Calgary


Jump to date: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31


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From James Alan's Facebook page (Receive a 50% discount* at Magic Tonight with coupon code cmagic):


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Receive a 50% discount* at Magic Tonight with coupon code cmagic

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Receive a 50% discount* at Magic Tonight with coupon code cmagic
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 From Ben Train's Facebook page (Receive a 50% discount* at Magic Tonight with coupon code cmagic):


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* Offer is subject to change without notice.  Canada's Magic earns a commission when you use the  coupon code cmagic.

01 January 2015

Happy 2015!

Wishing you and yours a year filled with awe and wonder!

And now, a musical interlude from James Jordan's Twitter feed:

31 December 2014

In memoriam 2014

Updated 2015-07 to add Richard Sequens.


Please e-mail additions or corrections to "canadasmagic at gmail dot com"