FISM 2000 - DAY THREE

Wednesday, July 5, 2000

33: RUNE STEIRO - Norway - GI.

T: Rune presented one effect, a pseudo-broomstick suspension, which turned into a levitation. Neither exciting nor well-presented, especially when compared with Der Hexer

S: Potential to be interesting, but totally missed on entertainment.

34: MAHKA TENDO - Japan - COM.

T: A toilet themed comedy act, which included lots of toilet paper and multiplying urinals. I guess the Japanese have an entirely different idea of comedy to the rest of the world.

S: No magic, the multiplying urinals were presented so poorly it was embarrassing.., especially when one of them ended up on his face.

35: STEPHAN VON KOLLER - Germany - GI.

T: Beginning with the production of a girl from a perspex pyramid, Stephan moved through the Origami to a type of levitation. The act was good, but not great.

S: An average illusion act. Unimpressive.

36: KOHEI - Japan - MAN.

T: Interesting ideas as he manipulated with balls, a sheet of black paper, and various shapes. Some moves worked, some didn't. Performing with black paper, while wearing black, against a black curtain wasn't a good idea though.

S: Better with more thought to colour and contrast so we could SEE the act. Some good moves... overall, not bad.

37: GEORGE SATERIAL - USA - GM.

T: We saw this act a few weeks earlier at The Magic Castle. It's a nice dove act set against a grandfather clock. The dove work was very clean, and he multiplied giant size silver balls.

S: Opening was good, when he stops the grandfather clock. A nice little act.

38: JUST ALAN - USA - GM.

T: Beginning with a slide show of India and a voice over narration to set the scene (which, after a few minutes got hisses from the bored non-English speaking portion of the audience) Just Alan presented an authentic looking Indian version of 'Sands of the Desert'.

S: I liked this act, although all the taped talking was a bit much for a FISM audience. The Indian character looked authentic and he presented his trick quite well... clean and clear, but very long.

39: RICHARD GRIFFIN - England - MAN.

T: A nice act featuring thimbles (a little hard to see), billiard balls and cards. Richard was the only card act who "plucked" the cards from the air instead of having them pop out from behind his hands.

S: I have a real gripe about the lack of understanding on card manipulation... specifically plucking cards magically from the air. Richard Griffith was the only magician this FISM who came close to what it should look like... far more magical than even the 'professional' guests who performed this kind of manipulation on the Gala shows, where a demonstration of circus skills were the rage.

40: FUMIO - Japan - COM.

T: Not funny.

S: Terrible... not worth writing about.

41: INDIANER POW HOW - Germany - GM.

T: Germans as American Indians? This act was as camp as the teepees that formed the backdrop. But it was so corny you had to love it! Better still, it featured some tricks that were real foolers, though the creation of 'Rain' (a la Copperfield's 'Snow') didn't please some portions of the audience. Warning: You WILL get wet!

S: A relief to see something different even though it was silly... you had to laugh.

42: THE TRAMP - Switzerland - GM.

T: His set looked great (though a little too dark) with a city skyline, park bench and flickering street lamp. His poor tramp character has great appeal and some of the effects, especially the floating light globe, are excellent. Needs a little more strong magic and variation of pace.

S: Magical, beautiful little piece. Original and entertaining, although lighting was a real problem.

43: ROXANNE - Germany - GM.

T: Roxanne appeared as a well dressed, confident, slightly gothic looking character and presented effects with roses, chocolates, and even colour changing lipstick. Some were too small to see, others a tad obvious, but all quite interesting. Her final effect was a spinning self-levitation.

S: Interesting piece. Roxanne looked lovely in her outfit and her magic was nice. Although most of it was quite small for distant spectators, it was presented well.

44: MATTHIAS RAUCH - Germany - MAN.

T: Very clever manipulation, but a little too fast. His card work was especially good.

S: Unclear idea, but his manipulation was very good.

45: KATALIN CZEKMANN- Hungary - MAN.

T: After a good start, the act petered out quickly. The dove pan and ghost tube won't score very well in the Manipulation category.

S: Nice blue trousers, very neat, clean outfit but not much happening on the magic side of the act.

46: CHARLES GAUCI - Australia - MM.

T: After a dramatic, well presented start where various numbers were added up by the audience, the only real problem Charles had was that his prediction turned out to be wrong.

S: Charles has a strong presence and a controlled manner. He spoke well and carried himself with dignity to the end of his presentation.

47: ZAUDERER - Germany - COM.

T: We saw this act at the last FISM where they came 3rd in Comedy, but they have really cleaned up the ending and tightened the whole thing. Three guys in matching suits (attempt to) perform magic in unison, with truly hilarious results. The use of sound effects, bizarre imagery, and totally unexpected moments won over the crowd as soon as they walked on.

S: Quite funny and entertaining. Very refreshing!

48: DUO DNS MAGIA - Argentina - GM.

T: This act was a sketch about a robber breaking into a house. They had a whole set and a well thought out storyline, and they were only 17 and 19 years old! A little more homework and they've got something here. A good start.

S: Very entertaining. Very clever. Concentrated on transformations... a bit of a slapstick cops and robbers silent movie type of performance.

49: ELENA AKATOVA & VICTOR VOITKO - Russia - GM.

T: With an interesting opening which appeared, at first, to be "Multiplying People", this was really more a costume change act than a magic act. Victor was never seen on stage, so we can assume he was the secret helper behind the backdrop of life size Russian dolls.

S: Very clever costume changes. Not a FISM magic act.

50: DINA - Argentina - MM.

T: Dina had a volunteer on stage and asked him to choose the colour of a sheep (turned out to be a "ship", I guess I wasn't listening very carefully. I only realised when she said "So you're on your sheep in the middle of the ocean".) Dina had correctly predicted the colour, the accessories, and the price of the ship. Then she did an exploding lightglobe.

S: Mentalism acts can be a little tedious to watch sometimes, but Dina (although hard to see for the black on black on black problem) was amusing in her own way.

Lunch break.

51: KONSTANTYN - Mexico - GI.

T: I couldn't see what was going on in this act at all. It used threads, so they chose to use virtually no lighting.

S: I couldn't see a thing.

52: ALBERTO GIORGI - Italy - GM.

T: A standard act featuring small effects like the smoke appearing in the glass. He had two columns on stage that looked nice.

S: Small effects. Average act..

53: THE MAGIC PLUMBERS - USA - COM.

T: These guys have a lot of fun on stage presenting a vanishing toilet, signed toilet seat to wallet, and other crazy plumbing themed tricks. Unfortunately, the audience didn't seem to enjoy it nearly as much, and technical mishaps with their music didn't help either.

S: Amusing.

54: DUO MAGIC DIAMOND - Italy - GM.

T: Small magic, too little light on stage didn't help as his props were black, on black costumes, against black backdrops.

S: Can't comment, couldn't see it. Any performer serious about showing an audience some magic should note colour and lighting.

55: YUNKE - Spain - GI.

T: Now this is how I think Grand Illusions should be presented. The curtains opened on a grand mansion: fireplace, curtains blowing from the wind of a storm, and a terror stricken girl ran in looking for somewhere to hide. We were immediately engaged in the story! She climbed into a cardboard box and the madman chasing her entered (coincidentally dressed in the black pants/white shirt uniform of all illusionists!) and plunged sharp rods through the box in order to kill her. (At last, a motive!) After removing the sticks, she slipped out without him seeing and hid under a cloth. Unfortunately for her, when he pulled the cloth away, she'd hid inside an Andre Kole 'Head Mover' illusion. The madman pierced her head with spikes, then removed the bloody head from her body and took it away as a trophy. His mission accomplished he was drawn to a very cut down version of Interlude (no box, just sticks and a few cloths) and a life size demon emerged from his chest, leaving him writhing in pain, and finally dying, centre stage. Great act! Loved it!

S: FINALLY... people who understand how to work with illusions. A gripping act with great acting. A psycho scene... the punch comes at the end when we find out why the man was so hell bent on killing the girl...he was demon possessed! Most illusions are sadistic forms of punishment, or killing devices. To stick a girl in a box (that looks flimsy and is treated as if it's flimsy), stick a few hundred blades in her body (that look as if they wouldn't hurt a flea), pretend to be gone and come back to life again is stupid. They were designed for effect many years ago... it doesn't have the same effect today for many reasons, unless the performers create reason and direction... which these performers have accomplished. FANTASTIC act!

56: JOB GRANELL - Mexico - GM.

T: Dressed in a white suit made it hard for us to see his doves as they were produced. He was a young guy, and it was reflected in the way his magic contained too much movement and confusion. The switch at the end with a clown character was a little too obvious.

S: Disjointed.. but a good try..

57: DANNY COLE - USA - MAN.

T: Nice act, but looked very small on the big FISM stage. His effects, all themed around him getting dressed, were great but seemed to lack the really strong finish the act deserved.

S: Red suit enhanced sharp image. Nice, neat, clean moves... smooth, suave, sophisticated.

58: THE MAESTRO - USA - COM.

T: I hadn't seen this act since Yokohama but it has definitely improved. The Maestro is a conductor who is constantly harassed by magic as he's trying to do his job. Highlights include card productions where the cards are musical notes; each card produced is accompanied by a note, and each fan by a chord. Lots of crazy, but skillful, magic. Very well received.

S: Imaginative, mostly original, themed and clever. Interesting to watch, very good skill level.

59: JORGE BLASS - Spain - GM.

T: Very well constructed act with three framed portraits of Frakson, Cardini and Vernon. After his dove dies, the magician is "taught" by these three masters who eventually combine to bring his bird back to life. Very well received despite an early mishap where he accidentally knocked one of his own props over.

S: Very interesting act. A tribute to three masters of magic. Jorge Blass tripped over one of his props, but went on with his act (after walking off stage, having his prop removed and came back on to continue). Impressive save. He performed a cigarette routine in honour of Frakson, cards in honour of Cardini and Symphony of Rings in honour of Vernon... all, no doubt, his heroes.

60: MARIO DANIEL - Portugal - MAN.

T: Mario produced candles and cards (some cards appeared with confetti, which was a nice touch). His jumbo card productions went down particularly well.

S: Not bad.

61: VOLKCANE & CIA - Brazil - GM.

T: A truly enchanting act where a puppet, operated by three people dressed in black, performed the magic. Tricks included the vanishing cane, a dove production, blammo box, bubble manipulation, and the zombie.

S: Three puppeteers brought a banraku to life. The banraku dreamt of being a magician as he leafed through a magic book... turning to his operators to plead for his cause (they were like 'guardian angels' who looked after him) they allowed him his wish. A beautiful, magical story and a clever performance.

62: ARAM ASYRAM - Russia - GM.

T: Using the premise that "Father is ill, his son is performing for him" Aram (about 8 years old) entered in an oversize tuxedo and performed with oversize props. He was utterly charming and extremely gracious to his volunteers (a lesson many acts still desperately need to learn!) His effects included the hat and purse tear, pom pom poles, rings, colour changing discs, a huge change bag he got inside, and finished with him playing the violin, then changing his table into a scooter and scooting off stage.

S: Delightful performer, courteous to his volunteer. Endearing and confident.

63: KOJI KISHIOKA - Japan - MAN.

T: Entering in a black mask, with black clothes against a black backdrop... he did some average card work, and billiard balls while trying to break dance. No real sense of routining or presentation.

S: Not overly entertaining.

64: MASK - France - GM.

T: A truly magical, beautiful routine featuring bubbles, marionettes, amazing tricks, emotion, and a killer finish where the puppets came to life. Standing ovation!

S: What an act! The success ran in the ability to reach the hearts of the audience. Very skillful bubble act. The magic occurred when objects appeared inside the bubbles and the bubbles lit up on a candelabra. The act was a story and themed like a Geppetto scenario. The puppets coming to life was the killer finish which forced a full house standing ovation. INCREDIBLE act!

65: SATORU FURUKAWA - Japan - MAN.

T: High skill level, but nothing really stood out in this act... with the exception of the sheer volume of cards which shot out from behind his hands. He was a card producing machine!

S: Lots of skill. not much magic.

66: MARIO CANTO - Brazil - GM.

T: A ballet dancing florist attending to her flower cart while on points at all time. The magic was mostly mechanical but what kept our interest was the question... "Is it a woman or a man?" Then some pyros caused a plastic bush to catch fire in the last moments of the act. It's just not FISM if someone's props don't burn...

S: Crossdressing? A man in a tutu? Ballet moves were wonderful... no magic, though!

Next was a real treat as Juan Tamariz was interviewed by Stan Allen. Keep your eyes out in MAGIC for a transcript of this chat, it was great! Tamariz is truly up there with Vernon!
After the interview, we headed into the huge dinner tent next to the Theatre for a night of, as usual, too little food, lots of drunk magicians dancing about to a band, and no formal entertainment.