Visakhian bags young Magician 2007 Award

MAGIC: Nishika Peries, a 13-year-old Life Member of the Magic Circle, a student of Visakha College Colombo stole the show when she bagged the Young Magician 2007 Award for her scintillating and sparkling Las Vegas style performance, not only giving a lot of stature to the entire contest but also displaying talented entertainment value for almost 10 minutes of superlative magic acts.

The event was held at Lyceum International School, Nugegoda. Nishika originally received her basic training in 2005 and 2006 under Magicana directed by Ronald De Alwis, and she enrolled herself this year as a Life Member of the Sri Lanka Magic Circle. Nishika as a teenager has lot of potential as a future Magician.

The other performer who got a Merit Certificate was Gamindu Kodagoda, 8, from Kalutara who too performed well for his age. The Sri Lanka Magic Circle presented the Young Magicians Contest for the sixth consecutive year since 2002.

The Young Magicians Trophy is in memory of V. Donovan Andree, donated by his son Malcolm Andree. The judges were Sri Sangabo Corea, Chandrasena Gamage, Rohan Jayawardane, Wasantha Meewaddana and Nelson Jayawardane. The Sri Lanka Magic Circle which also presents Charity Shows for Elders Homes & Childrens orphanages invited as a gesture of goodwill 35 children from the Pamankade Childrens’ Home.

“Kids taking part in these contests are an encouragement to other children who have a few tricks and even books on magic, but do not have the facilities to be groomed further.

This is where the Sri Lanka Magic Circle would like to give encouragement to parents and children in giving guidance, encouragement and the know how in presentation at their monthly workshops conducted on the

 last Sunday of each month when members meet at Lyceum, Nugegoda from 9.30 a.m. to 1.30 p.m.,” Sri Lanka Magic Circle President Ronald de Alwis said.

Any parent who wishes to enrolled their children to the Sri Lanka Magic Circle, could contact 2852998, or write to the Magic Circle at 24/2 Jambugasmulla Road, Nugegoda, and request for an application form.

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Tips and hints to help become a successful magician

* Practice in front of a mirror so you can see the trick as your audience will. Practice a lot!

* Practice the “patter” as well as the trick. Figure out before hand what you want to say during the show. Good patter will help distract the audience just enough to keep them from guessing how you’ve pulled off your magical feats! Here’s a start for you:

I have a magic trick for you.
It should be lots of fun.
Pay very close attention,
And guess how it is done!

* Resist the temptation to tell how the trick worked... keep them guessing and they’ll be even more impressed with your show.

* Never do the same trick more than once for the same audience. It makes it too easy for the audience to guess how it was done.

* Control the seating arrangements... some of the tricks require that the people be looking straight at you. Have the audience remain seated throughout the show.

* Wherever you can, borrow objects from the audience.. coins, pencils, napkins, etc. Borrowing from the audience makes it seem like the magician hasn’t had time to do anything sneaky to the item. This makes everything seem more magical!

* Lovely Assistant: a lot of the card tricks (or any other mind reading type tricks) work well using a magical puppet or stuffed animal as your assistant. Try putting on an entire show where you aren’t a magician at all.. instead claim that you bought a puppet from an old gypsy woman and it turned out to be magic (you can make up a cool story to use as your patter). Have the puppet or stuffed animal “whisper” the answers into your ear. Having a puppet do all the work, may keep you from getting stage fright!

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Tricks

Magic Envelope Trick

Effect:

The magician asks for a volunteer to write down four numbers on a piece of paper.

The magician asks the volunteer to Total up the numbers.

The magician opens a sealed envelope and it has the same number as the Total!

(or have the magic puppet pull out an envelope and hand it to the magician. Have the puppet “whisper” to the magician to open up the envelope.)

Supplies:

* piece of paper

* a pen

* an envelope

Secret:

Before the show, write down a four figure number that is 2 times the current year’s date. For example, in the year 2000, the number would = 4000. In the year 2001, the number would = 4002.

Seal the paper in the envelope. At the show, ask a helper to write down the year he was born.

Ask him to write down the year of an important event in his life (for example, the year he started school or the year he lost his first tooth)

Ask him to write down his age

Ask him to write down the number of years that have passed since the important event

(these numbers Have to be right, “grin” ... if it’s been 4 years since the event and he writes down 3, the trick won’t work)

The years have to be whole numbers (he can’t say he’s 6 and a half years old)

Have the assistant Total the 4 numbers.

Open the envelope. The Total will be the same as the number you already wrote down!

Coin trick

Effect:

The magician shows a glass, upside down, and a coin on a sheet of coloured paper.

He puts a handkerchief over the glass and moves it over.

He pulls the handkerchief off and Abracadabra! the coin has disappeared.

Supplies:

A sheet of construction paper (one), a clear glass, a handkerchief and a coin.

Preparation:

Trace the glass onto the sheet of paper and cut the circle out. Then tape it to the glass so when you put it onto a piece of paper the same colour it blends in.

Secret:

When you do the above put the glass onto a piece of paper and just basically move the paper covered glass over the coin while the whole thing is under the handkerchief so the glass covers the coin. Pull off the handkerchief. The coin will have “disappeared.”

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Yes You can

You always brought fame to Mother Lanka. You thrilled Sri Lankans, surprised both your opponents and the world. As a team, all of you proved the power of Sri Lanka. In the purest sense of the word, you introduced a new passion to World Cricket.

We knew how determined you were, when playing at the World Cup. Even though we missed it by lacking luck, another chance is up on your hand. All Sri Lankans, especially youth are looking eagerly until our heroes win matches.

Yes, you can do it. Most commentators and cricket fans brand you as a team which can make a revolution to the series. Most predict a Sri Lankan victory. We already know you’ve got a balanced squad even without having ‘Murali’.

Master Blaster Sanath Jayasuriya plays shots without a care for the World, not caring any of the bowlers. He makes all batsmen upset with his off-spin bowling using his experience.

There’s no comments on Mahela’s batting as he looks confident and builds innings patiently. Thus with Sanga and Chamara batting line is up to the mark.

Chaminda Vaas along with Lasith Malinga are capable of turning a match to their own. The other guys are also not giving up a game easily while the newcomers look pretty well with the chance they received. Though we can’t predict a win in a Cricket match, from the talents of teams or their early records we can just guess a winning team.

Twenty20 game is such a tough and stunning game. Everyone in the team has to work hard for a victory. So what’s your view towards our team? Are you sure of their win too?

May the Tripe Gem help them win the series!

Udara Lakshan Sanjeewa
C.W.W. Kannanagara M.M.V., Mathugama