Home Counties Magical Society

'Sorry, the show is sold out' was the response at the door of the South Street Theatre on my arrival. Fortunately I was one of the close up workers along with Damian Oke and Chris Marris who were doing the pre-show close up magic.

Ian dedicated the show to the late Mo Weller. The show has been a steady work in progress over the years. He has taken it to both the Edinburgh and Camden Fringes and numerous theatres.

The show is themed as he enters the stage dressed in a Victorian outfit as Dr Souche', a somewhat crackpot scientist performing Mind Experiments on his audience. His effects range from guessing a card thought of to divining the number someone is thinking about in a phone directory.

Ian employs good use of music to enhance the atmosphere. This is noticeably so during an enchanting 'eye reading' card piece as well has his finale Russian Roulette routine. Ian mentioned his interest in engaging all the senses and this could be seen when he performed an Aura experiment and the lights on stage changed colour noticeably every 5 seconds – was he manipulating the colour choice of the spectator?

One of my favourites was a complex routine which Ian put together himself involving a book test, auto-suggestion and hospitals. As the Camden reviewer snipelondon said, 'it was a bamboozler'.

Ian also has a knack at putting his spectators at ease, so much so that I have heard people want to volunteer to go on stage – now there's a first!

I understand the theatre enjoyed the show so much they have asked him back in June later this year. We will also have the opportunity to see part of his act on the 11th of May at the annual dinner.

Further information can be found at - http://www.facebook.com/realityvaccine or Ians website - http://www.mentalmagicman.co.uk/

'Funny Tricks with Ian Keable', stars (obviously!) Ian Keable, Winner of The Magic Circle Comedy Award, and takes place at Reading's South Street venue; 

South Street, 21 South Street, Reading, Berks  RG1 4QU

The show is at 8pm, on Thursday, 23rd February 2012

To book tickets (£10 / £8 conks, subject to booking fee)

The Box Office:  0118 960 6060

Online at http://bit.ly/ttJr54

The raffle is a fun way each month to help raise club funds - it generally raises enough each year to cover the cost of one of the lectures!  However, without prizes to offer the winners it could be dull, so any contributions are gratefully received.  The items don't have to be magic related, for example:

• Magic tricks, books, magazines and DVDs
• Bottles of wine (always a popular choice!)
• Boxes of chocolates
• Unwanted gifts (like Christmas stocking fillers).

No doubt we all have things sat at the back of our cupboards that we have no use for and take up space, but could be useful to someone else.

On the subject, I would like to say thanks to Mike Busby (who also runs www.dudethatscoolsmagic.co.uk) who donated a £10 voucher for his online magic shop to last night's raffle - a prize that was hastily taken!  (Remember Mike also offers a 10% discount to HCMS members and is currently running a great competition to win £1000 of magic!)

Please give all donations to Rodney Type who runs the raffle.  And remember, your continued support in this area does have an impact on the club and enables us to book quality lecturers.