I really enjoyed the convention as a whole, it did feel quite patchy, having some very good bits and some just as bad bits, numbers seemed to be down, around the 1000 mark so I heard, which was most noticeable in the theatre shows and during the lectures. I still maintain they could run the convention in three days instead of the current four-and-a-half, start on the Friday and finish Sunday night, however changes to that end may be afoot.

Highlights, well the main one has to be Charlie Frye, he really made the convention, however there was some other real stand-outs it was good to see Rich Bloch, Manuel Muerte and Martin Eisele, and some of our homegrown talent Ian Keable, Andrew Green, Amethyst, Richard Cadell & Sooty, Wayne Dobson etc.

I would like to thank on behalf of Magic Convention Guide, Bob Hayden and the IBM Committee for allowing us access to report the convention, Jon Marshall and Andrew Lewis for reporting on events I couldn’t get too, and for keeping me sane!

Next years convention will be in Southport, however there is still some talk going on about the start date, the committee are looking at the possibility of starting the convention on the Thursday (instead of the Wednesday) to run to later on the Sunday. I am sure Magic Convention Guide will bring you all the details as we have them.

The Stars of the Future show always seems to be an afterthought with it being stuck on the Sunday Morning. However it seemed fairly well attended. Fifteen year old Compere Sunny Pennington seemed at ease on stage, with some funny sight gags, and a comedy silk vanish to cover any waiting time.

Leah Mae and Sara Jade performed a themed Disney Cinderella act. It included all the elements from the story, a Floating Broom, Tip Over Box production of the Fairy Godmother, the production of a small model carriage from a Square Circle, A Glass Slipper production and finally a costume change to transform Cinderella into the Belle of the Ball. A well routined act.

Chris Philpott like his stage competition act had a mixed bag of tricks. His fire-eating was competently handled, and he went on to perform a Signed Silk to Apple and Cut and Restored Rope. He then performed his take on Slydini’s Paper Balls Over the Head, and Losanders Chain Break Thumb Tie. He closed with a dagger chest illusion. I would suggest that Chris got some direction and advice and he could have the makings of a good stage act.

The Amazing Morgan was the final act, and at only Seven years old had immense confidence and stage presence. Apparently she is already well versed in performing having raised lots of money for charity with her shows. She started with a Water in Newspaper effect, and then a very funny presentation for the Flower Box production from a Paper Bag. An Axtell drawing board allowed her to introduce us to her friend Charlie, and finally she performed a squasher illusion helped by her mum.

This is always a great way to finish the convention, but as I have said in the past they really need to find some way of incorporating this into the main body of the convention so more people get the chance to appreciate these youngsters.

The Ali Bongo International Gala opened with a fitting montage to Ali Bongo video clips provided by Bob Hamilton along with Ali’s show music played by Dave Cass.

The show was compered by Rich Bloch, who used a quick change bath robe gag to open to good effect. You immediatley felt at ease and he did a superb job of keeping the show flowing and introducing the acts, along with his own pieces, a jumbo version of Blizzard and a jumbo Three Card Monte.

Richard Forget from Canada performed a silent act which incorporated items being produced from a newspaper, along with smoke and fire at one stage. Multiple productions of Roses and an end sequence using origami birds, that floated.

Flip from Holland performed his act as known, utilising his Flip stick move to produce and vanish drum sticks, he also incorporated a rope sequence and a final production of all the objects he had been using tied onto the rope.

Matt Johnson from Canada performed a very nice version of the Linking Rings, a Mouthcoil production and a Diablo finale, Matt has a good, very upbeat style.

Charlie Frye & Company from the USA were simply incredible, Club and 3-Ball Juggling, Hat Tricks, Pole Balancing, all to a level of skill that defies belief, this guy is a genius! He is all your great heroes of vaudeville and variety in slapstick circus skills and silent film in one. His assistant also makes the act, her nonchalant attitude plays really against Charlies frantic movements. He finished by balancing his hat, waistcoat on top of a pole, on his head, and when the pole dropped he managed to simultaneously catch his hat on his head, and put on his waistcoat to huge applause.

Cyril Harvey from France performed a futuristic act with Spinning Tops and Jumbo Card Manipulation, he flicks out Spinning Tops like Channing Pollock producing doves and cards.

The Black Fingers from France were a Shadowgraphy act incorporating full colour backdrops along with the shadows, which helped to set the scene.

Manuele Muerte’s from Germany had an act that was very surreal, almost like he was living in a Magicians dream of making it to Las Vegas, a series of comedy magical happenings, including rubber doves and rabbits appearing, tables moving and collapsing, items getting shot, tigers dropping from the roof, and several costume changes ending with an appeareance of him dressed as Elvis. Las Vegas!

Richard Cadell & Sooty were excellent, even for a more grown-up audience, he went through a routine of putting Sooty to Bed and reading him a Bedtime story. Richard handles Sooty exceptionally well, and his finale of a three-bucket monte routine, saw Sooty moving around under the buckets to finally disappear completely.

The last act was Julius Frack from Germany who performed illusions, some very original and creative ideas, including building up a metal frame inside a big wheel, and opening the frame to make his assistants appearence. He placed his assistant onto a board, and under cover, penetrated through her legs. Then what appeared to be a Super X suspension turned into a levitation. Finally his assistant was placed into a big drum, and she vanished to appear in the back of the audience.

A fantastic Gala show with a big variety of acts, and a fitting tribute to a missing friend.

Martin Eisele had some very novel ideas, he started by producing a model car from a map of the world, which was an idea for an opening effect that could be changed around to produce other items from a large sheet of paper.

He then showed a card trick, where the spectator guessed the correct location in the deck of the other spectators card, by naming a number. The second signed selection ended up folded up in the model car. Again Martin used the card trick to demonstrate how he works his audience into reacting, and he also showed how the card-to-box idea could be changed to use other objects.

He then demonstrated and explained the suprise coin production that formed part of his FISM act, and a very clever and fairly easy one-handed coin matrix.

A trick utilising the Mnemonica Stack and parts of Tamariz’s Neither Blind nor Stupid, showed Martins creativity in utilising the built in feature of Mnemonica to give the trick a climax of returning the deck to New Deck Order at the end.

Finally Martin demonstrated and explained his original Dice Matrix effect.

Ian’s lecture was entitled Classics of Magic, and was his take on some of the classic tricks. Ian mentioned that he preferred performing the classics as he knew they would be strong tricks which gave him scope to work on the lines and scripting.

He opened with the Torn and Restored Newspaper, and performed and explained his version of Cards
up the Sleeve based on Jim Steinmeyers routine. A version of Mugged was excellent and incorporated a slight change to involve borrowing a Spectators Ring.

Ian’s version of the Stodare Egg trick, got rid of the Egg Switch, making it a much cleaner and easier trick to perform. Next he showed his version of the Sympathetic Silks, based on Paul
Potassy’s routine.

Ian then performed Sidewalk Shuffle, and went through some handling tips based on Roy Johnsons version. Ian’s version of the Brainwave deck, was briefly touched upon, and finally he
demonstrated a routine for the Die Box that would be suitable for an adult audience.

Some excellent thinking on classic material.

Rich Bloch performed a very funny gag with D’Lites, and a signature duplication.

Matt Johnson performed his YMCA tossed out deck routine.

Martin Eisele perfomed his FISM act, a Children’s TV voiceover narrateds the magic with the coin and dice matrix, the jumbo matrix, and the production of children’s toys.

Charlie Frye Performed Coins to Glass, and an Ace Production that involved lots of different card productions, including Phoenix Aces.

Sean Carpenter opened with producing a glass of water from his jacket. He produced a named card from his wallet, and then blindfolded himself, and proceeded to put the cards into a spectators jacket pocket, yet still pull out a winning poker hand.

Lastly Manuel Muerte performed his FISM act, Cigar productions, Borrowed Bill to Cork, and the refilling of a champagne bottle, coupled with fantastic misdirection.