On the 12th December, Paul Sunderland and I arrived at Saltaire Primary School to entertain over 100 children in the age range 4 to 7 on behalf of the Bradford Magic Circle. This has become a regular 50/50 show over the last few years. An event which raises funds for both the school and for the Bradford Magic Circle. The show was supposed to run from 4.30 to 6pm, with a break in the middle where the kids are stuffed with a drink and sweets, which they get as part of the admission price. That's a good idea, as it saves the staff having to sell item individually, and it certainly speeds the process up. However, as the doors were not opened until 4.30pm, and as each person had to pay at the door, it was 4.45 before Paul got started. Not that I was particularly concerned, as I was full of cold, and Paul had agreed to do the longest spot in any case. It turned out he did almost the whole show, as he didn't finish until 5.30, and I was left with 15 minutes at the end. Now that's what I call a cushy numberl Paul was his usual "The North's Top Childrens' Entertainer" best. He had all the children laughing heartily with his antics. I didn't write anything down at the time, but I do remember his red wand with two white ends, where one of the ends keeps disappearing. This is an object lesson to all childrens' entertainers on how to entertain children with the minimum of props and the maximum for laughs - and shouting, of course. Another item which he did included "Lucky Duck", where the duck apparently gets eaten by a cat, only to be found inside a giant egg. Despite setting the apparatus up incorrectly - which I own up to having done on several occasions - Paul got around it like a true professional, and I am sure none of the audience noticed anything. I only noticed because, as I said, I have done it several times myself. Paul received a well deserved lengthy round of applause after closing with the giant dog which Practical Magic sells. I was left to do "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer" - a Christmas version of the "Farmyard Frolics" effect; "Silver Sceptre"; and "Super Framed". The event raised £53 for the Bradford Magic Circle funds. Thanks to Paul, who, as I said, did most of it himself. |
