Summer @ The Cage

Last night, we ended the summer season of Magic@theCage with a fantastic sold out show. Of course, we're not going anywhere. We'll be back every Sunday this fall with a new and exciting show every week. Coming up in September, we have Jason Palter, Chris Mayhew, Paul Pacific and new performers Garnett Schmidt and Gary Benesco. I'll also be doing my (older) one-man show, Lies, Damn Lies & Magic Tricks on Sept 14. Tickets are available on the site.

I went back through the summer shows and picked out some of my favourite photos, including some of the goofier ones I wouldn't want to use for promotional purposes. There are way more to be found if you visit us on Facebook.

Magic at the Cage Poster

Shared Uncertainty

Part of the problem of a show called The Uncertainty Project is the necessity of remaining tightlipped about its contents. It was extremely important for the show to force people int a position to "expect the unexpected"* with all the discomfort and excitement that comes with that state of mind. At the end of the day magic revolves around reversal of expectations. We expect our watches to stay on our wrists, shuffled cards to stay out of order and empty hats to remain rabbitless. It's a fine line, trying to walk outside the boundaries of a traditional magic show but without degenerating into total randomness and Family-Guy-Manatee humour. On the other hand, I routinely blindfold myself with duct tape on stage and do magic with thimbles, so a show on the eve of World Pride demanded a certain amount of extra unexpectedness.

Enjoy Part One of The Uncertainty Project!

The Uncertainty Project was presented June 18-21, 2014 at the Wychwood Theatre in Toronto with additional unexpectedness by Lavender Blonde.

Not sure yet when Part Two will become available or how much of the show I'll be willing to post publicly. I guess the future really is uncertain.

*It's not actually the contradiction in terms that people normally assert that it is.

Chris Mayhew documents SOULO

The lovely and talented Chris Mayhew just completed a short documentary about the SOULO Theatre Festival at the Red Sandcastle Theatre back in May. In addition to being an extremely amusing and risible addition to the cast of Magic@theCage, he does some extraordinary video work (back in April, we co-hosted the launch party of his feature length film A Series of Unfortunate Effects). You can watch the film below and perhaps take a moment to vote for SOULO in NOW Magazine'sBest of Toronto 2014.

Tracey Erin Smith

The SOULO Theatre Festival, under the direction of Tracey Erin Smith, is an eclectic collection of one person "solo" shows which are often autobiographical, occasionally hilarious and always inspiring. Every show ran for a single performance along with several special workshops and panels for performers who want to develop their own solo work.

The documentary was filmed at the Red Sandcastle Theatre in Leslieville, Toronto and features (in order of appearance) David Harrell, Sebastian Heins, Adrianna Prosser, Rachelle Elie, Tracey Erin Smith, James Alan (whoever that is), Martha Chaves, Caryn Ladovsky, Terrence Bryant, Christopher Sawchyn, France Raymond, Michael Wolk, Linda Griffiths, Zabrina Chevannes, Polly Esther, Joanne Latimer, Sean Towgood, Sage Tyrtle, Tantoo Cardinal, Debra Bennett, Marsha Shandur.

The SOULO Theatre Festival is also nominated for Best Small Theatre Company by NOW Magazine. You can head over to NOW, now and vote.

Or click to Watch on YouTube.

SOULO_2014_POSTER-web

Photos from The Uncertainty Project

At the Wychwood Theatre, June 18-21.

Mooney on the Uncertainty Project

The Uncertainty Project was reviewed by Mooney on Theatre.

I highly recommend this show to anyone with even the slightest interest in magic. It provides a fun alternative to traditional theatre or a night out at the movies. James Alan: The Uncertainty Project is funny, interesting, and will leave you thinking afterwards. Seriously though, HOW DID HE DO THAT???

The full text of the review can be found here.

Canada's Magic on The Uncertainty Project

The Uncertainty Project was reviewed, (somewhat randomly) on Canada's Magic.

♣ There will never, ever be a show exactly like the show I saw.  (At least, it's highly improbable.)

♦ Any show with links to Heisenberg, Einstein, Fermat, Schrödinger, and Douglas Adams, is cool in my books.

♥ There were some very powerful moments.

♠ I was absolutely entertained.

The full article is available here.