Charles Dickens, Magician!

[Richard Kaufman]

https://www.geniionline.com/2022/04/09/ ... -magician/

[Jack Shalom]

I was wondering about the lovely printed magic program of Dickens listed there. Of course, such printed programs have gone out of fashion, but I wonder what people here think about them--do they spoil the surprise, or do they help cement magical moments in the audience's mind?

[Brad Jeffers]

The best part of the program are the little footnotes following the description of each trick ...

*** This wonder is the result of nine years’ seclusion in the mines of Russia.

*** Five thousand guineas were paid for the acquisition of this wonder, to a Chinese Mandarin, who died of grief immediately after parting with the secret.

*** An annuity of one thousand pounds has been offered to the Necromancer by the Directors of the Sun Fire Office for the secret of this wonder—and refused!!!

*** Ten years in the Plains of Tartary were devoted to the study of this wonder.

*** The Necromancer’s attendant usually faints on beholding this wonder, and is only to be revived by the administration of brandy and water.

*** The extreme liberality of this wonder awakening the jealousy of the beneficent Austrian Government, when exhibited in Milan, the Necromancer had the honour to be seized, and confined for five years in the fortress of that city.

[Jack Shalom]

Yeah, I loved that, too. I'd love to design a show just to give out programs like that!

[AJM]

All fine and well, however I would wager Dickens never went viral on TikTok.

Nor agonise over the role of the Magician as ‘an Actor’.

[Jack Shalom]

Nor agonise over the role of the Magician as ‘an Actor’.

True, but he wouldn't have had to: Dickens was known as an excellent and enthusiastic amateur actor throughout his lifetime. He would have understood the connection instantly.