FISM 2012 - Day Five
Posted: July 13th, 2012, 2:56 pm
Day 5 Fri 13th July
With no early morning close-up scheduled, some much needed sleep was in order before the final acts of the stage contest.
And we definitely saved some of the best for last.
1.Tae Won Kim Ted Kim General Magic Korea
An ingenious idea in which the entire act is projected onto the performer and surrounding stage set. This is the closest thing to seeing a movie come to life ... complete with magic in-jokes parodying the manipulators ... as well as a brilliant Nintendo Marios Bros skit.
2. Javier E. Garcia Castagino Cavaliere Comedy Magic Argentina
Sporting a tuxedo ( strike one ) - out came the cardboard glitter bammo box ( strike two ), lota can ( strike three ) ... and in case there was any doubt - misers dream ... which gave me a fresh perspective as to what magic looks like in a senior citizens variety show.
3. Olwethy Dyantyi General Magic South Africa
Fusing dance with magic, Olwethu featured umbrellas, flying ( and sometimes not so flying ) silks and jumbo card manipulation. A youthful energy that the audience seemed to enjoy.
4. Park Eun Kyoung General Magic Korea
A good start with cards to roses and colour changing flowers but when the zombie diamond came out, the elegance ended.
5. Carles Moreno Lopez Charlie Magic General Magic Spain
The act starts with a photo slideshow which was oddly reminiscent of a Michael Jackson Heal the World motif ... my interest was piqued. Wearing the strangest outfit with a delineated codpiece, we have appearing bird cages, birds that lay eggs and bird cages that turn to goldfish bowls.
6. Nestor Hato Manipulation France
A high energy act with billiard balls, glitter confetti to cards and color changing hair and shirt.
7. Xin Ya Fei General Magic China
An exotic stage set from with Pagoda arches and images of Chinese beauty. Appearing fans. Enlarging fans. Diminishing fans. Giant peacock fans. Fans, fans and more fans completely filling the stage.
8. Andres Oyarzabal Latko General Magic Argentina
An odd-ball act about a burglar in a museum ... coin productions, the most horrible floating of a crown featuring completely visible thread ( when will magicians learn invisible thread in contests is a bad idea ) and very slow quick change. Jay Temaat performs a similar themed act ...but with far more aplomb.
9. Liu Bei General Magic China
A big slatted screen forms the backdrop for card manipulation, jumbo cards and expert card throwing that would put Jeff McBride to shame. An LED lillypad is a first!
10. Brynolf & Ljung General Magic Sweden
Repeating their previous slow mo winning FISM act something technically went amiss as the performance ended quite abruptly ... a new touch though was the floating coffee cup which looked spectacular until the lighting cue changed and the dangling thread was exposed ;-(
11. Alana Moelmann Alana General Magic Germany
An appearing third hand along with a self closing jacket was a novel touch but the continued repetition unfortunately ruined the impact.
12. Les Chapaux Blancs General Magic France
A black art performance that was tres magnifique ... wow! Pure visual magic at its best. Youtube it now.
13. Mantas Manipulation Latvia
A vampire hairdresser with scissors and scalpel manipulation with hair curlers and an appearing dove cage from behind a table. Do magicians have periods of momentary blindness when they attempt such steals ... I can imagine the thought process: if I close my eyes and wish really hard, I know they audience wont see me taking this large object from behind the table.
14.Paulo Maderal Manipulation Argentina
Even the acts are starting to aim for me as I was attacked by a flying card. Mandatory lamppost, misers dream, billiard ball manipulation, vanishing candles and jumbo card to concertina.
15. Leonardo Nifosi Leo Nifosi General Magic Italy
Max Maven in his younger days presenting Feather magic ... note to performer: we can see the hidden feather behind your back. And ending off with a warm and fuzzy snowstorm ... with pink feathers.
16. Dion van Rijt Dion Manipulation Netherlands
Set in a cafe the lead discovers his partner has left him. Theatrical in construct, the act unfortunately didnt live up to its hype ...
17. Marko Karvo General Magic Finland
The closest thing to Channing Pollock in magic today. Slick, suave, and extremely talented. But also exceptionally dated with tuxedo and tails, torn & restored newspaper and snap silks. His bird handling is incredible and received an amazing response from the crowds.
18. Yu Ho Jin
What can be said that hasn't already ... this is the new face of Korean magic. Sublime skill, unbelievable handling and visual impossibilities that appear as if you watching a movie. I have never seen an audience erupt as one ... the ovation was deafening, and Yu Ho Jin was quite literally moved to tears ( as were many in the audience ) What a speccial moment - the very epitome of the joy of FISM.
19. Jason Ladin General Magic Colombia
I pity anyone that has to follow Yu Ho Jin ... especially when you are featuring vanishing cane, linking rings and multi-coloured cards. Ouch.
20. Keelan & Charlotte General Magic England
Representing Team Britain the act comes across as the poor second cousin of Sos & Victoria featuring the now ever-present mylar confetti ending. Originality please.
Twenty acts ... a multitude of magic. Its all up to the judges now - who will the winners be?
Friday Stage Gala Show
Friday 13th at a magic convention what could possibly go wrong.
Blackpool hosting the final ( or so we thought ) Stage Gala Show and reaching a brand new low for FISM ... thats a pretty impressive feat.
Lets give you the full run-down on this mediocre show with some moments of pure horror.
The show starts with the announcement of the winner of the 6500 GBP diamond ... a contest kept pretty much hidden during the gala banquet dinner. With a 5 minute speech about just how valuable this particular jewel is along with its very special certificate of valuation ... it is duly presented ... in a brown paper bag. Very classy.
Han Seol Hui from South Korea followed with his well known and high energy CD manipulation act including a nice little nod of appreciation to Topas & Soma. Great start so far, but not to last.
Unfortunately we are re-joined by the puerile humour of Clive Webb & Danny Adams as comperes. Yes the same artists from Mondays show. And Wednesdays show. Appearing again on Fridays show. And what do we have in store a yellow & pink pants Danny Adams lifting up the skirt of a bagpipe player. Why ?
Richard McDougall arrived complete with his goose but unfortunately he stood no chance with an international audience so reliant on the English language to understand the gags.
Danny Adams as Elvis then introduced the unbelievable quick change artists - Sos & Victoria. A shining light amidst the darkness. But my little moment of joy was soon shattered by the sound of screeching microphone feedback in a ridiculous gag by the tap-dancing Mr Blub. Yes Mr Blub and his Bubbles from Wednesdays show is doing double-duty as Mr Blub the Dancer. Who knew ! 15 minutes of my life was torn away with this excruciating attempt at entertainment. If I wanted to watch a purple wearing clown pretending to be Michael Flatley - I would go see Lord of the Dance.
Mrs Blubs torture finally gave way to Tony Chapek and his now classical TV act. Whilst still well presented the live interaction concept has been taken to a whole new level as todays contest demonstrated and Tonys act is dating fast.
Ventriloquist Paul Zerdin was on hand to close the first half with his very funny routine featuring automated vent masks and two very obliging volunteers complete with ballroom dancing.
Twenty minutes of interval later - Rafael presented a new work-in-progress in an interesting set of a hairdresser getting up for work. There are some nice moments of creativity but as with any developing piece it is still being worked on.
Danny Adams returned with some cheap sexual innuendo and juggling nothing quite like man-handling a female spectator on the floor.
Our time-trip though wasnt quite complete without a detour to Italy and Paolo Giua. Wearing tuxedo and tails you could close your eyes and return to the 1970s ... a homemade prop stand with a picture of an Oscar statue ( or is that a Merlin ) that looks like its covered in tin foil. Multiplying cigarette boxes, streamers, card fountain and some very in vogue cigarette manipulation.
Our ever-present hosts unfortunately havent yet left the building and now arrive as Elvis in a Fat Suit and promptly fall off the stage in Derek Levers lap. Karma ?
Mr Blub the Bubble-maker, Dancer and now Juggler returns for an actual piece of performance with on-stage partner, Sabrina. Why not just get them to perform this single act that was actually worth watching ? I shouldnt ask such questions. Although would like to suggest that Mr Blub doesnt add stage hand to his list of credits ... as having the performer strike his own two side lamps during the middle of the next performers set is just a little tacky.
Tacky ? At Blackpool ?
Taste has no bounds for what was about to follow.
An international audience. 3000 people from around the world. A family audience. FISM 2012.
And out arrives a man in drag - in a fat suit - with drooping breasts - and pubic hair.
There we have the enduring image of FISM 2012 as presented by Blackpool. I hope they were proud ... because I was ashamed to be sitting in that room. More damage was done to FISM in that moment than anything ever before.
With the audience in shock one final act remained. Greg Frewin as the closing finale. The image of master magician and magic legend ... destroyed in an instant for the audience assembled tonight. Gregs apparent poor treatment of his borrowed doves resulted in the audience instantly turning on him voicing their displeasure with loud booing of his performance. Greg Frewin booed at FISM. Who would have ever imagined. His standard performance of stock illusions followed Origami, Appearing Bowling Ball ( you could hear the collective sigh of the audience as the pad appeared ) and Fire Spike Illusion ... ending with Shrouded Transition. The performance was dated, the audience was hostile and the whole gala show experience awful.
The performers themselves must have sensed the anger at this unfortunate mess of a show as no curtain call followed. The lights went up and Clive Webb & Danny Adams tell us Goodbye and god bless.
We are all going to need more than forgiveness for what we were forced to witness.
With no early morning close-up scheduled, some much needed sleep was in order before the final acts of the stage contest.
And we definitely saved some of the best for last.
1.Tae Won Kim Ted Kim General Magic Korea
An ingenious idea in which the entire act is projected onto the performer and surrounding stage set. This is the closest thing to seeing a movie come to life ... complete with magic in-jokes parodying the manipulators ... as well as a brilliant Nintendo Marios Bros skit.
2. Javier E. Garcia Castagino Cavaliere Comedy Magic Argentina
Sporting a tuxedo ( strike one ) - out came the cardboard glitter bammo box ( strike two ), lota can ( strike three ) ... and in case there was any doubt - misers dream ... which gave me a fresh perspective as to what magic looks like in a senior citizens variety show.
3. Olwethy Dyantyi General Magic South Africa
Fusing dance with magic, Olwethu featured umbrellas, flying ( and sometimes not so flying ) silks and jumbo card manipulation. A youthful energy that the audience seemed to enjoy.
4. Park Eun Kyoung General Magic Korea
A good start with cards to roses and colour changing flowers but when the zombie diamond came out, the elegance ended.
5. Carles Moreno Lopez Charlie Magic General Magic Spain
The act starts with a photo slideshow which was oddly reminiscent of a Michael Jackson Heal the World motif ... my interest was piqued. Wearing the strangest outfit with a delineated codpiece, we have appearing bird cages, birds that lay eggs and bird cages that turn to goldfish bowls.
6. Nestor Hato Manipulation France
A high energy act with billiard balls, glitter confetti to cards and color changing hair and shirt.
7. Xin Ya Fei General Magic China
An exotic stage set from with Pagoda arches and images of Chinese beauty. Appearing fans. Enlarging fans. Diminishing fans. Giant peacock fans. Fans, fans and more fans completely filling the stage.
8. Andres Oyarzabal Latko General Magic Argentina
An odd-ball act about a burglar in a museum ... coin productions, the most horrible floating of a crown featuring completely visible thread ( when will magicians learn invisible thread in contests is a bad idea ) and very slow quick change. Jay Temaat performs a similar themed act ...but with far more aplomb.
9. Liu Bei General Magic China
A big slatted screen forms the backdrop for card manipulation, jumbo cards and expert card throwing that would put Jeff McBride to shame. An LED lillypad is a first!
10. Brynolf & Ljung General Magic Sweden
Repeating their previous slow mo winning FISM act something technically went amiss as the performance ended quite abruptly ... a new touch though was the floating coffee cup which looked spectacular until the lighting cue changed and the dangling thread was exposed ;-(
11. Alana Moelmann Alana General Magic Germany
An appearing third hand along with a self closing jacket was a novel touch but the continued repetition unfortunately ruined the impact.
12. Les Chapaux Blancs General Magic France
A black art performance that was tres magnifique ... wow! Pure visual magic at its best. Youtube it now.
13. Mantas Manipulation Latvia
A vampire hairdresser with scissors and scalpel manipulation with hair curlers and an appearing dove cage from behind a table. Do magicians have periods of momentary blindness when they attempt such steals ... I can imagine the thought process: if I close my eyes and wish really hard, I know they audience wont see me taking this large object from behind the table.
14.Paulo Maderal Manipulation Argentina
Even the acts are starting to aim for me as I was attacked by a flying card. Mandatory lamppost, misers dream, billiard ball manipulation, vanishing candles and jumbo card to concertina.
15. Leonardo Nifosi Leo Nifosi General Magic Italy
Max Maven in his younger days presenting Feather magic ... note to performer: we can see the hidden feather behind your back. And ending off with a warm and fuzzy snowstorm ... with pink feathers.
16. Dion van Rijt Dion Manipulation Netherlands
Set in a cafe the lead discovers his partner has left him. Theatrical in construct, the act unfortunately didnt live up to its hype ...
17. Marko Karvo General Magic Finland
The closest thing to Channing Pollock in magic today. Slick, suave, and extremely talented. But also exceptionally dated with tuxedo and tails, torn & restored newspaper and snap silks. His bird handling is incredible and received an amazing response from the crowds.
18. Yu Ho Jin
What can be said that hasn't already ... this is the new face of Korean magic. Sublime skill, unbelievable handling and visual impossibilities that appear as if you watching a movie. I have never seen an audience erupt as one ... the ovation was deafening, and Yu Ho Jin was quite literally moved to tears ( as were many in the audience ) What a speccial moment - the very epitome of the joy of FISM.
19. Jason Ladin General Magic Colombia
I pity anyone that has to follow Yu Ho Jin ... especially when you are featuring vanishing cane, linking rings and multi-coloured cards. Ouch.
20. Keelan & Charlotte General Magic England
Representing Team Britain the act comes across as the poor second cousin of Sos & Victoria featuring the now ever-present mylar confetti ending. Originality please.
Twenty acts ... a multitude of magic. Its all up to the judges now - who will the winners be?
Friday Stage Gala Show
Friday 13th at a magic convention what could possibly go wrong.
Blackpool hosting the final ( or so we thought ) Stage Gala Show and reaching a brand new low for FISM ... thats a pretty impressive feat.
Lets give you the full run-down on this mediocre show with some moments of pure horror.
The show starts with the announcement of the winner of the 6500 GBP diamond ... a contest kept pretty much hidden during the gala banquet dinner. With a 5 minute speech about just how valuable this particular jewel is along with its very special certificate of valuation ... it is duly presented ... in a brown paper bag. Very classy.
Han Seol Hui from South Korea followed with his well known and high energy CD manipulation act including a nice little nod of appreciation to Topas & Soma. Great start so far, but not to last.
Unfortunately we are re-joined by the puerile humour of Clive Webb & Danny Adams as comperes. Yes the same artists from Mondays show. And Wednesdays show. Appearing again on Fridays show. And what do we have in store a yellow & pink pants Danny Adams lifting up the skirt of a bagpipe player. Why ?
Richard McDougall arrived complete with his goose but unfortunately he stood no chance with an international audience so reliant on the English language to understand the gags.
Danny Adams as Elvis then introduced the unbelievable quick change artists - Sos & Victoria. A shining light amidst the darkness. But my little moment of joy was soon shattered by the sound of screeching microphone feedback in a ridiculous gag by the tap-dancing Mr Blub. Yes Mr Blub and his Bubbles from Wednesdays show is doing double-duty as Mr Blub the Dancer. Who knew ! 15 minutes of my life was torn away with this excruciating attempt at entertainment. If I wanted to watch a purple wearing clown pretending to be Michael Flatley - I would go see Lord of the Dance.
Mrs Blubs torture finally gave way to Tony Chapek and his now classical TV act. Whilst still well presented the live interaction concept has been taken to a whole new level as todays contest demonstrated and Tonys act is dating fast.
Ventriloquist Paul Zerdin was on hand to close the first half with his very funny routine featuring automated vent masks and two very obliging volunteers complete with ballroom dancing.
Twenty minutes of interval later - Rafael presented a new work-in-progress in an interesting set of a hairdresser getting up for work. There are some nice moments of creativity but as with any developing piece it is still being worked on.
Danny Adams returned with some cheap sexual innuendo and juggling nothing quite like man-handling a female spectator on the floor.
Our time-trip though wasnt quite complete without a detour to Italy and Paolo Giua. Wearing tuxedo and tails you could close your eyes and return to the 1970s ... a homemade prop stand with a picture of an Oscar statue ( or is that a Merlin ) that looks like its covered in tin foil. Multiplying cigarette boxes, streamers, card fountain and some very in vogue cigarette manipulation.
Our ever-present hosts unfortunately havent yet left the building and now arrive as Elvis in a Fat Suit and promptly fall off the stage in Derek Levers lap. Karma ?
Mr Blub the Bubble-maker, Dancer and now Juggler returns for an actual piece of performance with on-stage partner, Sabrina. Why not just get them to perform this single act that was actually worth watching ? I shouldnt ask such questions. Although would like to suggest that Mr Blub doesnt add stage hand to his list of credits ... as having the performer strike his own two side lamps during the middle of the next performers set is just a little tacky.
Tacky ? At Blackpool ?
Taste has no bounds for what was about to follow.
An international audience. 3000 people from around the world. A family audience. FISM 2012.
And out arrives a man in drag - in a fat suit - with drooping breasts - and pubic hair.
There we have the enduring image of FISM 2012 as presented by Blackpool. I hope they were proud ... because I was ashamed to be sitting in that room. More damage was done to FISM in that moment than anything ever before.
With the audience in shock one final act remained. Greg Frewin as the closing finale. The image of master magician and magic legend ... destroyed in an instant for the audience assembled tonight. Gregs apparent poor treatment of his borrowed doves resulted in the audience instantly turning on him voicing their displeasure with loud booing of his performance. Greg Frewin booed at FISM. Who would have ever imagined. His standard performance of stock illusions followed Origami, Appearing Bowling Ball ( you could hear the collective sigh of the audience as the pad appeared ) and Fire Spike Illusion ... ending with Shrouded Transition. The performance was dated, the audience was hostile and the whole gala show experience awful.
The performers themselves must have sensed the anger at this unfortunate mess of a show as no curtain call followed. The lights went up and Clive Webb & Danny Adams tell us Goodbye and god bless.
We are all going to need more than forgiveness for what we were forced to witness.