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Those of you who weren't there missed an excellent evening. I received several comments at the end of the evening saying that the meal had been outstanding, with the service being of a much better quality than previously. Partly this was due to my discussing concerns expressed in earlier years that sometimes the meal had been cold by the time some people had received all their vegetables, so this year each table was dealt with in turn before serving the next table.
82 people turned up for the evening. Bearing in mind that we can only fit 84 people in, I think we could call it a sell-out.
After the meal, the President of the Northern Magic Circle, Eddie Burke, thanked the Bradford Magic Circle for its hospitality and Doug Haigh, acting on behalf of our late President, Len Medina, replied on behalf of the Circle. Due to the unfortunate death of Len, we had decided to invite all the Hon Life Members to the evening, and it was good to see Ernest & Jean Ainley there along with Vincent Shackleton. Louise Bellerby, Lauren Stringwell and Katie Wells sold hundreds of raffle tickets. A quick committee meeting around our table agreed that we would donate 50% of the proceeds to Children in Need as the event was taking place that day, so a cheque for £50 has been duly dispatched.
Tony Parx introduced the cabaret, bringing on Ross Risdon, who started with the Zombie ball. For a youngster he showed remarkable maturity when the ball fell on the floor and Melvyn’s lights went out, ad-libbing superbly. (By the way, thanks to Melvyn for bringing the lights along as they certainly make a difference to the cabaret.) He then produced some balls from his mouth followed by a large streamer. Telling a story about getting money from his father, he used production boxes to good effect. Finally he went behind a cloth to keep reappearing with different masks on, finishing as an old man, in which disguise he used his walking stick as a dancing cane. Ross received a well deserved loud round of applause.
Tony Parx struggled with the amplification system, so, quite rightly, abandoned it, as it is not really needed in this intimate venue. He ran through 6 card repeat (perhaps that's one you could do Stevie!?), diminishing cards and growing cards, before he got two volunteers for a very effective cards across routine, asking the lady volunteers to place the cards in the top of their dresses so that he could reach them out. Still utilising his volunteers he walked through the centre of a piece of rope held at both ends by the ladies. Finishing with card manipulations (without music as there was no tape player for his cassette!), Tony left to enthusiastic applause.
Guy Barrett & Co rounded off the evening with a superb set. Starting by producing a girl in a cabinet, he closed the door and she reappeared in a different dress. A dancing handkerchief led into a girl being put into a cabinet. Guy turned the rollers at the side of the cabinet and she came out flat. He showed the cabinet empty before reversing the process. His assistant was then placed inside another cabinet. A blade was placed across the middle and the top half lifted off. Large tubes were placed through each half before the cabinet, and girl, were recovered in one piece.
Steve Gore went to help with the Spirit Cabinet. One of Guy’s girl assistants was tied up, Steve actually tying some of the knots. She went inside a covered screen with Steve. Steve's head being shown through the curtain. In a few seconds the screen was pulled back to reveal the girl now wearing Steve’s jacket, with the ropes being through the sleeves.
Guy was placed inside a cabinet. Blades were placed through his neck and legs. The centre of the cabinet was taken out, turned upside down and replaced. When the door was opened the centre of Guy was now upside down, with his head still being in view.
A 20th century silk effect and torn and restored newspaper led to Guy's final illusion with the girl in a cabinet, where rollers are pushed from the side to flatten her. The box being opened to show she had gone. Luckily Guy restored her in time for the three of them to receive three long and loud ovations.
As the clock approached midnight, people started wandering off home in the icy night, leaving a few dancing and chatting.
There has been some discussions about our moving the event to another venue, as some disquiet had been expressed by a few people about the previous year’s dinners. Therefore we are asking for feedback from everyone who was there whether they would prefer a change of venue or if there are any improvements which could be made at the Midland. All you have to do is to give any comments – even if it's just 'it was good, stay there', or 'I would prefer another venue'. We need your comments to make a decision. Just speak to any member of the committee.
Whatever the decision it is time for a change in organiser. We have been at the Midland now for 10 years – our first dinner being in 1995. I have been arranging the dinner for all that time. Because there is a choice of menu, which I am sure most people would prefer rather than just having a set meal, there is a large amount of work involved in finding out who is going; getting people's menus; getting money off people; sorting out seating arrangements; making sure the Midland have details of the menus required; preparing cards for each table reminding people what they ordered; preparing place cards; getting raffle prizes; paying artists, etc. I feel that it is now time that someone else took on these responsibilities. Therefore I am giving plenty of notice of this so that someone else can step forward and take this on. It doesn't have to be a member of the committee, anyone can do it, it just won’t be me.
