The Billet Article - One Trick Contest

This article is taken from The Billet Issue - 428 - Nov 2007, Authored by Keith Pickles

One Trick Contest

39 people turned up for our first one-trick contest. However, most of these were Gary Brook’s relatives who he had brought along to support him! Of the Bradford Magic Circle members who turned up, most took part in the evening, although it was disappointing to see that some members could not even stand up to do one trick, and perhaps even more disappointingly, many members did not turn up at all. For those who did, it turned out to be a brilliant evening, with a real smattering of excellent magic for everyone to enthuse over. And even our compere, President, Colin Gough, got some laughs with his jokes!!!!

There was no running order, in keeping with the informal way the evening was intended to be; and Colin merely asked who wanted to get up next. Keith Pickles started off the evening by having a card chosen and fond in a Kit Kat. The next magician was a surprise – Louise Bellerby. She started by counting out six cards (!!!!) but abandoning this to display a needle on which she magically threaded some string. Gary Brook had the first stab at his act, but unfortunately at this time the moment was too much for his young daughter, and tears brought an end to his spot (to be continued later as you will see).

Louise’s spouse performed colour changing rings; whilst Mark Waddington did a sponge ball routine culminating in the production of sponge rabbits in his female assistant’s hands. Ray Roberts did the quickest effect of the night with mutilated brolly to cane. Steve Gore then came along by throwing out bars of chocolate to the audience to get a volunteer to choose the suit and number of a card. Betty Driffield opened up a sealed pack of cards and Steve took out the chosen card – AS – and tore off a corner. Betty kept the corner and Steve put the card in an envelope, which he mixed with two others. Betty chose two envelopes which Steve shredded. The card was not found in the third envelope but inside a sealed packet of Smarties.

Melvyn performed in his own inimitable style, using classic props in a modern, hilarious setting. He took a large hankie and pushed it into his hands. When he opened his hands the hankie was seen hanging from a giant thumb tip. He then told a story of having a block of gold which he wanted to put somewhere safe, so he put it into a bank – turning over a box it was shown to say “Northern Rock”. He knew the gold was safe there and wouldn’t be taken by anyone (here Gordon Brown popped up). The gold was transferred into the sliding die box (safe), where Melvyn got the most out of sliding the gold backwards and forwards. Here was a classic example of how to get the most out of your props.

Gary returned with his young daughter and performed the Chair Suspension to wonderful applause (the problems of working with animals and children even when they are your own). Jon Harris showed his colour changing plumes; and then Henry told how when he was doing his audition to join the Bradford Magic Circle he was so nervous that he cut his finger with the scissors he was using – at this point he ‘cut’ his finger again with the large scissors he was using; luckily on this occasion it was just tomato ketchup. However it did not stop him finishing his cut and restored rope routine. Peter Bainbridge did a card routine to finish the one trick contest.

This was not the end however as Stevie B came back to perform a childrens routine with ropes. Ray showed us a an updated version of the Seven Keys to Baldplate effect using the latest quiz show, Goldenballs, as his template, and Colin produced coins from the folds of his jacket to perform a coin routine.

Everyone now got the chance to vote for their one-two-three and after the customary break for tea and biscuits, Colin announced that Melvyn was the winner, Steve Gore came second and Louise third.

Not being quite the end of the evening, Steve Gore & Stevie B then showed a Linking Ring Routine which they are going to perform on Mark Waddington’s charity show in Skipton. This was to music, with Steve’s rings linking and unlinking, whilst Stevie’s never did, despite changing them around. A hilarious end to what had been a very entertaining evening.

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