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Terrible Wizard Inner circle 1973 Posts |
Do any you guys do any physical comedy with your magic? Do you find it a natural fit, or does magic and physical comedy fit poorly together?
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Mike Maturen Inner circle Michigan's Beautiful Sunrise Side 2726 Posts |
Depends on your definition of "physical comedy". I use a lot of funny facial reactions, stares into the audience, etc. I don't do pratfalls (not since I hurt my hip doing one anyways). I still do a lot of visual comedy in my shows. I love it when I can get families laughing.
Mike Maturen
World of Wonder Entertainment The Magic and Mayhem of Mike Maturen 989-335-1661 mikematuren@gmail.com AUTHOR OF "A NEW DAWN--Weekly Wisdom From Everyday Life" member: International Magician's Society |
Terrible Wizard Inner circle 1973 Posts |
Cool Mike . Yes, I'd consider that physical comedy. How did you learn the skill?
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Mike Maturen Inner circle Michigan's Beautiful Sunrise Side 2726 Posts |
I have been involved in theatre since I was very young...and have always been a ham. So part of it just come naturally. I also grew up watching some of the classics like Laurel and Hardy, Abbott and Costello and Jerry Lewis. More recently, Jim Carey is a great one to study.
Mike Maturen
World of Wonder Entertainment The Magic and Mayhem of Mike Maturen 989-335-1661 mikematuren@gmail.com AUTHOR OF "A NEW DAWN--Weekly Wisdom From Everyday Life" member: International Magician's Society |
Terrible Wizard Inner circle 1973 Posts |
Yes, I agree - great exemplars One great thing about physical comedy is that at its best it can transcend barriers of age, culture and language.
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Mike Maturen Inner circle Michigan's Beautiful Sunrise Side 2726 Posts |
Indeed. One of my favorite effects tro perform, as cheesy as it sounds, is the Vanishing Bandana. It lends itse3lf to some terrific facial acting.
Mike Maturen
World of Wonder Entertainment The Magic and Mayhem of Mike Maturen 989-335-1661 mikematuren@gmail.com AUTHOR OF "A NEW DAWN--Weekly Wisdom From Everyday Life" member: International Magician's Society |
Father Photius Grammar Host El Paso, TX (Formerly Amarillo) 17161 Posts |
If you mean does a prat fall or dropping your pants in the middle of a routine, in the right audience, still get a laugh. Yes it does. Back in my performing days I did several routines that involved physical comedy. One that got some of the best laughs involved a stooge and a rope escape. They would tie me up and put someone's coat over my tied hands and legs and I'd keep popping out my hands and telling the stooge he was on the wrong side holding the rope, then pop my hands back shake off the coat "accidentally" and they would see me still tied. When I moved the stooge around I would steal his tie, swipe his belt, his pants would fall down, etc. Got a huge laugh. But, I would never try it without a stooge.
"Now here's the man with the 25 cent hands, that two bit magician..."
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Mike Maturen Inner circle Michigan's Beautiful Sunrise Side 2726 Posts |
Father Photius: That's funny. My original performing partner (now long out of magic) had a similar routine. I always opened the show, performing the first half. He closed the show, performing the second half. When he began his act, I would come out and interupt, saying that we would do an escape rotuine. I then chained or tied his hands, and then proceeded to take ove the show. In the meantime, behind my back, he escaped, snuck up behind me a "stole" my cummerbund (we both wore tuxes). Naturally, as I was stealing the show, my pants fell down, revealing a loud, funny pair of boxers.
We were both in out teens, and performed almost exlusively at elementary schools. Nobody had a problem with it back then, in fact they all laughed hysterically...but I wouldn't drop my pants in a school environment these days.
Mike Maturen
World of Wonder Entertainment The Magic and Mayhem of Mike Maturen 989-335-1661 mikematuren@gmail.com AUTHOR OF "A NEW DAWN--Weekly Wisdom From Everyday Life" member: International Magician's Society |
harris Inner circle Harris Deutsch 8812 Posts |
I still use prat falls.
The last time was at a small towns Christmas Program. The Mayor had also asked me do appear as Dr. Laugh earlier that day at a Retirement Village. His comment between gigs indicated he wanted a more upbeat show for family night. I entered carrying a duffle bag and small but heavy wood table. Just before hitting center stage I used the old kick your forward calf with your back foot. Down I went with a very surprised look The surprise was due to the extra weight I was carrying. This lead to the audience gasping as one. A few seconds after they realized I was Ok. They laughed again as one. After the gig, the Mayor was pleased with the higher second show energy, And was still doubtful that the fall was "Staged"
Harris Deutsch aka dr laugh
drlaugh4u@gmail.com music, magic and marvelous toys http://magician.org/member/drlaugh4u |
jay leslie V.I.P. Southern California 9498 Posts |
Harris
What do you call it when you trip yourself by accident three times a day? Whatever it it, that's me. My father used to say that the greatest dancers stub their toes in the middle of the night. That's why I don't sleep.
Jay Leslie
www.TheHouseOfEnchantment.com |
Father Photius Grammar Host El Paso, TX (Formerly Amarillo) 17161 Posts |
My Great Uncle Harry actually used a prat fall as misdirection for one of his illusions. A lot of the Blackstone methodology was very bold. In this one effect he would have an assistant walk at the corner of the stage carrying a tray of magic apparatus and take a prat fall. The audience would look at the fall and laugh, while Uncle Harry simply pushed what he wanted to vanish off the stage at that moment.
"Now here's the man with the 25 cent hands, that two bit magician..."
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jay leslie V.I.P. Southern California 9498 Posts |
Ahhh vanishing ducks VIA a garbage can because the regular apparatus failed one show and he wanted to see if he could get away just by using simple misdirection. And he kept it in the show thereafter.
Swoger saw him do it several times. He said there was a lot of silverware on the tray that first night.
Jay Leslie
www.TheHouseOfEnchantment.com |
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