2008-06 Review of Magic at Fringe Festival

Saw a very good performance at The Fringe festival two weeks ago. The Fringe is a conference of short theatre pieces that are presented at Loch Haven Park each year. Many of the actors are local and are often one-man or two person playlets. The plays run for nearly 10 days and each one is approx. 45 min. in length and presents at various small theatres in and around the "park". Each show plays six or seven times within the length of the festival.
Last year, as one of the shows, was a "drag" magic act (did not see it) but the year before was Mark Stone's excellent (and old school) mentalism show. Although Mark's show is that of basic "Mentalism 101" it never misses in going over well with the laymen (and I've seen the show three times).
This year included a show entitled Wonder Show of The Universe (a title taken from Thurston's show of the 1920's-30's). To enter any or all of the numerous different Fringe shows you must first purchase a button ($6)...to be purchase only one time. The entrance for each show varies but is approx. $10.00 plus a $1.00 service charge. So it cost me $17.00 to see Wondershow of the Universe...a 37 min. show (was billed as 45 minutes).
Was it worth it? Yes! Starring Travis and Yves as turn of the century conjurors presenting an 1850's "Do The Spirits Return?" presentation. He opens with the Gene Anderson paper tear, a bit out of character I thought but done well. He then does a nice borrowed pocket/wrist watch time match as I have seen Kreskin do and the right timing is needed to "pull it out" (pun for those who know).
Next is a quick and seldom seen self arm severed illusion that was invented by UF Grant. Coincidentally, the only other time I saw this performed was by Magic Ian at The Villages Show. Travis's looked nearly impossible...even close-up. Travis then performed another illusion (I believe that is owned by former David Copperfield's stage manager Michael Keating), Jim Steinmeyer's great illusion Origami. Although this illusion has become the new Zig Zag in that every other magician (I'm "the other") performs it, it still is very popular with audiences. This too was a bit out of character for a show such as this but again, performed well.
Next was the very cool dining room table levitation where six people come up to assist "floating" a large, round, heavy table. The beauty of this illusion is that the damn thing can even be inspected. The only other person I saw do this was Copperfield in his Ghost" TV special. I happen to be at his taping in Tampa when the specia l was being produced. Closing the Wondershow was the best Spirit Cabinet illusion I have seen. The prop was spectacular (might have been built by Wellington) and the routine or at least some ideas might be that from Steinmeyer. Yves looks like Frances Willard and the presentation was near perfect. Seeing this alone was worth the $17.00! One bit I will not reveal was a stunner! After seeing The Illusionist and Prestige movies, I immediately wanted to do a show similar to what I saw two weeks ago.
In fact, after seeing my Magic In Mandolins show, I believe it was Art Thomas and/or James Songster who told me that they could see me doing a similar piece. Maybe I will. But Travis did a good job but not without some things I would have done differently. But that's me. Travis & Yves looked the part with period costuming and some good props and presentation. Next time I hope to see their show where they are not rushed off in order to fill the stage with the next Fringe show that has to start only 30 min. later, having to share that stage space.


Dan Stapleton