The Billet Article - Librarian’s Ramblings

This article is taken from The Billet Issue - 450 - Sep 2009, Authored by Peter Wright

Librarian’s Ramblings

Firstly I hope that you have all had a great summer holiday. Seen places and done things you could never do at home. But the nights are well and truly drawing in now and there is a definite chill in the air. All this means that autumn is nearly upon us which to me brings the second half of the Circle’s year. I think that this is the best half of the year. As well as lots of interesting lectures and competitions for the members we have the Dinner Dance, then at Christmas – oh no!! I didn’t want to be the first to use the ‘C’ word. After all I am only writing this in August. Don’t worry I promise I won’t mention it again until at least November. The weather over the summer has been the usual mixture of sunshine and showers, and it was during the showers that I had chance to see some of the Pendragon DVDs that we now have in the library. Its not often that a professional act like the Pendragons reveal all their secrets on four DVD’s, but that is just what Jonathan and Charlotte Pendragon have done. All their most famous illusions are revealed and explained for all to see.

Now if you are imagining that the DVDs are just a quick series of scenes with the Pendragons explaining their illusions and with a couple of days practice you can go out and perform them- oh no. Jonathan takes great pains to explain every little nuance about the trick. Take for example the Hindu basket. Firstly we learn the history of the trick, then why the basket is designed like it is, then why he chose to use swords for the trick, which swords to pick to look best on stage, then how he learned sword play so he would look convincing wielding them. How Charlotte gets into the basket, her position, the dangers of using fire in the trick. The list goes on and on and that is only for one trick. To my way of thinking it just goes to show how much attention to detail goes into making their act look so easy and effortless. Another example is the broom/sword suspension. He tells us that he practiced for six months so that he could locate the pin in the stand by feel alone. That’s six months just locating a one inch pin, which was in the one way bearing unit under Charlotte’s arm, into the top of a stand. I don’t think I would have the patience.

Talking of equipment, it is surprising just how small the harnesses are that support Charlotte in these tricks. Apparently she has amazing upper body strength which means that she doesn’t need a large support. The small ones that are used are tailored to her body which, as they tell us. means that they both have to careful not to loose or gain weight as the harnesses would no longer fit, Also of course the small harness enables her to wear those skimpy costumes for which she is quite well known leaving the layman to wonder where she would conceal a support harness. During the DVDs there are times when Jonathan is chattering away explaining a move and Charlotte is suspended in one of these small supports. She is obviously in pain as they are only designed to be worn for short periods and not to have her hanging about while he explains things.

I hope that I haven’t put you off watching these DVD’s. I admit they are long winded but it demonstrates that a lot goes into the presentation of a large stage illusion. Even the most apparently simple illusions are not all they seem. When asked which is the hardest trick to perform, Jonathan says that it is the sword penetration called The Impalement. You will have seen it when she is balanced on her back on the point of a sword and it penetrates her body as she slides lifeless down the blade. Then he lifts off it and restored her to life. Sounds simple but he says it is the hardest trick to perform well. And watching the explanation I can believe it. That though is the secret of their success, ‘to perform the trick well’. They really go into the finest detail to make their magic look convincing on stage and I think it works. The set of four DVD’s covers most of their well known illusions. Each DVD can be viewed separately and if I haven’t got the one you want I will reserve it for you when it is returned. Well just having had my hard drive crash with most of my Magic Circle information on it I had better get back to see what I can retrieve from it.

See you next month

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