Last year my active involvement in the management of HMC’s activities came to an end so when, at 6.30 p.m. on Friday, January 14 2005, Jan said, “Do you have anything to do tonight?”, I cheerfully replied “No, apart from putting a couple of tricks in my pocket”. I had not always been that laid back in previous years!! The supper always created some work for the Hon. Sec. but, I hasten to add, nothing like the Herculean demands placed on the Hon. Treasurer. He really does deserve a medal for that evening alone.But tonight for me was a new experience. All I had to do was to play the role of a paying customer. Our party was sitting near the door and therefore I was in a good position to observe proceedings at a distance, both physically and emotionally. It was a very different experience and, let me say, from the outset it was one I found thoroughly enjoyable. I was able to witness at first hand what a fantastic evening the Annual Supper provides and it is little wonder that the tickets sell like hot cakes – or should that be hot steak and kidney pies.

From the moment we entered the Conservatory area, you could feel the buzz of expectancy – people were happy. Old friends were cordially greeting one another and I even saw someone with a pack of cards. Why not! After all we are a magic society and not a dining club. Once Arthur had said grace, the meal got underway and it was then that you could sense the atmosphere – the atmosphere that makes the supper such a winner. You could hear animated conversation punctuated by laughter and the clinking of glasses. You knew everyone was enjoying themselves. You could feel it. Eventually Michael Harrop gave me the word and I started doing close-up at the tables. I didn’t see much of what other magicians were doing but it seemed to be going down well. I’m convinced that one of the reasons that the close-up is so successful is the large percentage of non-magicians at the event. I know that my family enjoyed all the performers who came to our table. Food for thought?

The twenty members of HMC that took part in the close-up session were, in no particular order, Kevin Ward, Rob Walls, James Ashford, Jonathan Gaines, Roni, Ray Burrell, Karen McIntosh, Daniel Smith, Richard Morrell, Gordon Stow, Tom Wilkinson, Malcolm Bromwich, Roland Tuplin, Bernard Reuben, Debbie Griffiths, Ron Thompson, Rex Stott, Domanic Li, Margaret Henriksen and Roxanne Broadbent.

Soon it was time to recharge glasses and await the cabaret. I was really looking forward to seeing Ian Keable. I remembered him doing a lecture for us some time ago and just wondered how his very successful close-up style could transfer to the platform format. The answer was soon obvious. He was a hit and fully justified John Archer’s enthusiastic build-up. Ian soon had the audience hanging on to his every word, totally mystified by his good magic and amused by his sharp-witted patter. His involvement of members of the audience was a sheer delight and an object lesson in how to get laughs while keeping the volunteer in on the joke. His laid-back laconic style was very much in the Mike O’Brien mode and you can’t give much higher praise then that. To give a list of what Ian performed would not do it justice, but some of the highlights included his Smashed and Restored Watch routine, Named Card to Wallet, Bill in Lemon, Cards Across and an hilarious audience participation routine. All of Ian’s props came out of his jacket and pockets, which was a minor miracle, he was a human Multum in Parvo! The evening came to a very successful close with our President thanking all concerned, reminding them about the Annual Dinner and bidding them goodnight. Hardly anybody moved. People just continued chatting away. Whatever the ingredients for success are, the Annual Supper has them in spades – and hearts, clubs and diamonds, too. Has anyone ever tried bottling them?

The food and magic were plentiful and of good quality. The company was convivial. The place was packed – another winner!

Over forty members, prospective members or members of Humberside Young Magicians attended the supper. This was by far the most in the Circle’s history and this was despite the unavoidable absence of several well-known faces. Two dozen performers had kindly agreed to do close-up magic at the tables in the half-an-hour between the end of the meal and the start of the cabaret. Yet another record. [Read More]