Newsgroup Posts

I host a magic newsgroup. We've been having an interesting discussion lately.

Here is a taste from a topic in progress from Payne

I have never portrayed a magician in a play. I have been, amongst other roles Pistol, Falstaffs Dogsbody in The Merry Wives of Windsor, Hannibal the demented statistician in The Curious Savage and Mr. Summers, in The Lottery, but never a magician, or even a magical character unles you count the alien Kreton in Visit to a Small Planet. I also rarely get to perform my magic shows in a theatre. Magic Monday in Lake Forest Park, at which I perform regularly has a stage but it is in a Food Court and even though it can be cordoned off I still wouldnt classify it as a Theatre.

The closest I come to a theatrical experience is with my Library and School Programs. At least those people have to travel to see my performances and they can be a bit more formal as there is setup and break down time which allows me to present a more elaborate performance with larger props, music and backdrops, things that I would never think of using at a home or office party. And thus I think lies the crux of the problem. Most people only ever see magic shows in hotel banquet facilities and neighbors living rooms.

Back in the Golden Age of Magic magicians performed elaborate shows in grand theatres. Today outside of Las Vegas and the few touring shows that are left, magic is never seen in a theatre. It is usually presented by a weekend warrior with little or no theatrical training, in a back yard or a living room. This is not to say that this means that it is a bad show or that the performer lacks skill. I just feel that this is the reason that magic is not generally seen on equal footing with the rest of the theatrical arts. We lack the validation that a brick and mortar theatre brings. If Ballet, Opera or Drama were only seen in people's Rec Rooms I am sure that it too would be not ba as highly regarded as they are now by the general public. The fact too that magic is rife with wannabes. Well meaning but self deluded individuals who think that they, with little or no theatrical or magical training can present a professional level performance just because the bought a self working prop or two. I know other performing arts too suffer from this sort of devotee. Garage Bands, Amateur Theatrics and Karaoke help to promote the marginal to bad performer. But for some reason the public turns a blind eye to these theatrics and will think little of hiring a comic or a band after a previous bad experience with same.

But one bad magic show can put an organization off for years and years. It doesnt make sense but Ive been told that that's the way it is. So I suppose that a way to elevate magic would be to try to figure out a way to get it before the public eye in a much more legitimate venue. The resurgence of our art form can be directly tied to Doug Henning bringing his Magic Show to Broadway. Magic needs to progress, it needs its Micheal Moschen, it's Cirque du Soilel. Siegfried and Roy helped to broaden magics horizons and David Blaine has certainly updated the general publics perception of our craft but still we remain at the bottom rungs of the theatre arts where the party clowns, ventriloquists and jugglers reside. But then throughout most of history that is where we have always been so perhaps it is fool hard for us to expect more.

Food for thought.

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There were some good responses form some people on my "Back Room" Tightcircle. Here was my response:

Payne's "Food for thought" was a delicious meal. It made me think hard about where I've been that there was a regular theatrical venue for magical entertainment.

When I lived in Boston I would go up to Beverly, MA to see the Le Grand David show (now in it's 30th year!). While living in Atlanta I used to frequent the Tom Foolery (Tom Mullica's magic bar and close-up theater). Obviously Vegas has not shortage of magicians performing in theaters.

As for our own fair town of Seattle, one of my favorite venues to perform in is the quaint Jewel Box Theater.

Interesting discussion.

We've talked about the benefits of a theatrical framed storytelling magical performance.

I know there are some how don't dig this sort of thing. I heard from some friends that think this sort of thing can be longwinded and boring. Maybe we can talk about that.

It seems that some hard core close up card guys are the ones bashing storytelling magic. I've also heard it expressed that there doesn't need to be a why. "It's a card trick", they say, "The magic should be evident without lengthy discussion".

Is either right or wrong? Personal preference? Style?

I love good storytelling magic. . . hook, line and sinker.

It's OK to like McBride and Burger, It's OK to like Blaine and Angel. Shit, it's even OK to like my act.

Maybe one question we can all ask ourselves is, "What is it that we want to convey with our performance?"

How do we want our audience to feel.

Hmmmmm I'll have to think about that one.

I hope you do too, and I hope that you'll share your thoughts.