Our annual holiday celebration was attended by close to 50 members and guests. It’s always a great time for us to reflect on the year, share in the brotherhood with food and friends, and put on an informal show with members to share their routines. Everyone was gracious to Sue McElvenney and David Kelly for leading with coordination and ample festive provisions. It was inspiring to see many young children at the event enjoying walkaround magic performed by Ring members before dinner.
To kick things off after appetizers, President Emeritus Bill McElvenney ceremoniously passed the gavel to our new president Steve Friedberg. Steve reciprocated, thanking Bill for his two years of service and presenting Bill with a certificate of appreciation. Steve also took the opportunity to announce the scheduled lecturer, Scott Alexander for January. Scott is sure to give us insight into the book he is writing on one of his mentors, the late Denny Haney, who ran the renowned Denny & Lee magic shop and counseled thousands of magicians over the years. He also said that Monday Night Magic’s Peter Samelson will lecture for Ring members in February.
Everyone continued to discuss magical ideas throughout dinner and then it was on to a show for all to enjoy…
Bill McElvenney started off with his grandson Alexander Hammel and a “dry” sense of humor that kept the audience engaged throughout the routine. A cup of water was placed on his head and the spectator. Amusing by-play ensued as he secretly drank his cup of water, allowing Alex to magically disappear his glass just in time to avoid getting wet. Alex, having earlier received recognition for attending Magic Camp, was happy to be dry.
Dr. Mystic (Steve Applebaum) took to the stage and did a great job presenting Venom cube by Henry Harrius. Getting one Rubik’s cube mixed by a spectator to match another cube that was in plain view was nothing short of astonishing. He then finished the effect by solving the cube in 23 seconds! His second routine was a prediction effect whereby random game titles were written on pieces of paper and a random selection matched cards dealt to the table. The convincer, to have the spectator say stop on the cards dealt, was pure genius.
Bill Bowersox weaved an entertaining story about a piece of rope he bought at a Magic Shop years ago. He logically progressed through a host of transitions which left us with one conundrum. Either Bill had bought a magical rope, or his skilled prestidigitation. I tend to believe the latter as anyone who has done rope magic can appreciate the discipline. The rope appeared to have four ends at one point, then no ends at all. His knots seemed to dissolve in plain site until he was left with one long and one short rope. He concluded to thunderous applause.
Marc DeSouza used many volunteers in his act and although he didn’t bring a lot of props, he did bring his witty personality and entertaining persona we have come to love. First, he correctly played “which hand” with three random spectators each vying for a $10 bill. Getting each correct, Marc reclaimed his cash after each spectator revealed a prediction on each bill that matched the named hand. He then moved on to a great working of the Turner Watch prediction where a random number was generated on his phone’s calculator by the spectator and then found to match a serial number of a bill set out in plain sight. Lastly the watch, also set out at the onset and never touched, revealed the thought of time by the spectator. Lastly, Marc shared with us his masterful handing of the Malini egg bag. The spectators were flabbergasted as to how the egg appeared in the held bag.
Chris Fabiano concluded the evening, performing his “Spirit Form” routine, where a signed coin invisibly traveled from a spectator’s hand to a change purse in their pocket. Next, he connected the minds of two audience members in a fun version of the modern classic “PK Touches.” Lastly, Chris showed supreme control over his spirit and body as a selected card appeared under the skin on his arm.