Magic

Modern audiences – and magicians – forget that the power of most great illusions has been diluted by decades of copyists who blindly mimic what they perceive to be both the effect and technique of the originators. It is only by probing, discovering and analyzing the material that one can chip away the extraneous and see the hand of the artist. David Ben’s reconstruction of classic magic reveals not only the artistry of original creations but also that great creative works, be they visual, musical or magical, are timeless.

The Conjuror includes...

• The Thumb Tie

Houdini meets Japan. The conjuror, his hands bound together by a member of the audience, thrusts his hands magically back and forth through the edge of a Samurai sword. Performed originally in the United States in 1901 and then in London, 1909 by Ten-Ichi (1852-1912), the Thumb Tie combines danger and mystery in a most refined and sophisticated manner.

• Dancing Handkerchief

In 1880s, a spirit medium named Anna Eva Fay (1851-1927) created a sensation by making a piece of fabric – a handkerchief – come to life. Adopted by iconic performers such as Harry Kellar in 1894 and Harry Blackstone in 1917, the hanky returns to life in The Conjuror as Cassadaga - the conjuror’s companion and playmate.

• Spirit Paintings

An image selected by a member of the audience from a sketch book materializes visibly as an oil painting on a large canvas examined previously by the audience. This mystery, originally a closely guarded secret of early twentieth century spirit mediums was uncovered by an American named David P. Abbott (1863-1934) and presented in theatres around the world by the great English inventor and performer P.T. Selbit (1881-1938).

• Floating Ball

The Floating Ball is a mysterious pas de deux between the magician and a large silver sphere. Created originally by David P. Abbott but associated with Tobias Bamberg (1875-1963), the fifth generation Dutch magician who gained international fame performing as an oriental magician named Okito, The Conjuror recreates the choreography of this dance as it was presented by Bamberg at St. George’s Hall, London in 1921.

• Egyptian Water Jars

Six large urns, showed unmistakably empty, are suddenly filled with water. A deep mystery created by Karl Germain (1878-1959) and featured during his performances at St. George’s Hall, London in 1906.

More Magic

• Sawing Through
Inspired by the original illusion created by P. T. Selbit in 1921, members of the audience assist the magician in cutting a person in two. The Conjuror presents its own twist on this cornerstone illusion, a presentation which owes as much to Ernst Lubistch and screwball comedy as it does to its magical inventor.

• Blooming Rose Bush
A seed, planted in a pot of soil, grows visibly into a mature rose bush. The roses are cut from the bush and distributed to the audience. Inspired by the legendary growth of a mango tree as performed by Jaddo workers in India, the Blooming Rose Bush was created by Karl Germain (1878-1959) and presented at St.George’s Hall, London in 1906.

• Spirit Cabinet
A comedic expose of the techniques used by fraudulent spirit mediums to hoodwink believers, the bereaved and luminaries such as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle that it is possible to “cross over” to the “other side” and communicate with the dead.

• Asrah
The celebrated levitation of a woman and her disappearance in mid-air created by Servais LeRoy (1865-1953) and performed in London in 1914. Many consider the Asrah the most hauntingly beautiful levitation ever created.