Review: Just for Laughs' Circus Awesomeus

From the Montreal Gazette:

Bill Brownstein — So they sent in the clowns, and if this wasn’t the Greatest Show on Earth, Circus Awesomeus sure beat the Oscars all to hell. After three weeks of standups, it was a blast to touch base with a clown channelling his inner Céline Dion, sword swallower, aerial acrobat, bawdy balladeering puppet, juggler and X-rated diva.

Denise Duguay — I went in to Monday night’s Circus Awesomeus gala expecting greatness and hoping for a nod to host Neil Patrick Harris’s evil woman-sawing turn in the TV series American Horror Story: Freak Show. I got all that plus a terrifying but endearing giant clown.

Monique Muise — Anyone purchasing tickets to a show dubbed “Circus Awesomeus” was likely hoping for a spectacle, and that’s exactly what we got from Neil Patrick Harris and company. From puppets to magicians to jugglers to singing clowns to (very funny) dwarves, this show had it all.

Read more.

Toronto: SOULO Theatre Festival

Friday, August 7, 2015 - Sunday, August 9, 2015

From James Alan's post in the Ring 17 Facebook page:

Slightly off-topic, but in a few weeks down on Queen Street, I'll be helping to produce a storytelling workshop for actors. He was here earlier this year headlining a theatre festival and he's a hilarious and engaging speaker. The shows will be fantastic if you want to go see, but I think the workshop would be really valuable for magicians. Information is up here if you want to go:   http://www.eventbrite.ca/e/soulo-theatre-presents-three-nights-of-james-judd-in-toronto-tickets-17748859316?aff=es2

Chris Funk's unexpected vanish

Wishing you a speedy recovery Chris!

From the Winnipeg Free Press:

MAGICIAN Chris Funk was there one minute, and then — abracadabra! — he disappeared from the Winnipeg Fringe Theatre Festival.

The Wonderist, as Funk is known, was scheduled to open his show Redefining Wonder July 15 but had to cancel the run because of an injury that took place at the Toronto Fringe Festival last week.

Read more.

Toronto by the numbers and contest for free "Magic of Science" school shows

Toronto magician Gambit, has put together a clever routine describing his city.

Watch it on YouTube:





Gambit is also giving away 10 free "Magic of Science" shows for schools in the GTA.  He has an undergraduate degree in Electronics and Communication Engineering (B.E.) and studied in the U.K. for his post graduate Law School degree (L.L.B.).  He uses his shows to promote education, with a focus on STEM subject matters (science, technology, engineering and math).

To enter, place the name of your school (or educational facility) in the "comments" section of the previous or next YouTube videos (either video is fine). The contest is open to elementary, middle and high schools. The cut off date for entering is mid Sept. Multiple entries per school are permitted.  For a complete list of contest rules, contact Gambit.


Watch Gambit talk about the "Magic of Science" on YouTube:

The illusion of fame

Mark Correia and his production company "Noodle Boys" did an interesting stunt illustrating the illusion of fame.

Watch it on the Noodle Boys YouTube channel:

Toronto: Update to "Used Magic Day"

I previously posted about the upcoming Used Magic Day at the Browser's Den of Magic.

Jeff recently posted some new information about the day in the Browser's Den of Magic Facebook group:

All the fantastic deals will be in boxes and tables throughout the shop. Many items priced less than $5.00. Plus 'Bags of Magic' loaded with stuff for less than $10.00 per bag. The items to be on sale are not from one source. Rather, they are from a bunch of smaller collections.

AND for those who stay right until the end (5pm)...Jeff will make a truly unbelievable offer.

An offer that you will truly not be able to refuse.

Once you hear the offer you may come to the conclusion that Jeff has actually lost his mind or that he has watched the Godfather movie too many times. (Probably both true.)

Read more.

What could Jeff possibly have up his sleeve this time?

Greg Frewin in the Niagara Falls Review

From the Niagara Falls Review:

It's no illusion that you're seeing double with Greg Frewin this summer.

In addition to a regular nightly show at his Ellen Ave. theatre, the Niagara Falls magician can also be seen on the CW Network's revival of Masters of Illusion. He was on the first episode of season 2 July 10, and appears in five upcoming segments, starting with Episode 3 Friday night.

Frewin filmed the episodes last February. Among the illusions he performs are the 'squishier' illusion and the 'glass sawing origami' illusion. In the season premiere he performed the 'sphere,' in which one of his dancers is placed in a container which is pierced with flame lit stakes. When the container opens, two dancers and a wolf emerge.

Read more.