Dramatic and Musical Performances Equipped With Magic

Magic is coming rushed to the performing arts.

The era, when the magician shows his exquisite skill only with his or her hands, has been ended up. The era, when the magic takes the role of ‘spices and condiments’ to a party or concert, also has been ended up. In recent times, magic is getting to settle down as a new genre loved by the young generation. In particular, magic is soaring up as a popular ‘material’ to be used with other performing art’s genre, in order to give a brand-new show.

○ Drama Performer Practices Water Tank Escaping Magic!

The practices to mix up magic with performing arts are being carried out. The new dramatic performance, ‘The happiest man in the world’, which is to be held at a theatre in Seoul, set forth a magician as a protagonist. At the last scene, where he escaped the water tank with his body chained up by a lock, this performance shows the havoc of genre’s boundaries. Oh Yong, the protagonist, has learned how to practice the escaping magic from the professional magician, Kim Jung-woo, for a year. Because, in this dramatic performance, the magic skill is closely connected with the performance skill.

‘Lee Eun-kyul’s Magic Concert’, which will be held on December 20, at KOEX’s Grand Conference Room in Seoul, has been also prepared to cross over the boundaries of common magic show. Lee has put in dramatic elements in this show. His draft story plot is to organize the ‘Magic with story plots’ in the way of omnibus. “I will not just simply show the disappearance or change of the stuffs, but, will set up a situation ‘Why this stuff has to be changed?’ to lead the show,” Lee Eun-Kyul said, adding “In order to achieve this, I’ve put in some performances as simple as like Mime.”

In ‘The Rose of Sharon’ (by Maya Theatre), ballet, acrobatics, opera and dramatic performance will appear all together. This performance was named as ‘Fantasy Theatre’, giving critical role to the ‘Magic’ performances. Gerald Lasnie, a French magician will turn up to show eccentric magic techniques. It is an indispensable element of this performance.

‘Rocky Horror Show’, which will be continued until December 31, at Polymedia Theatre, Seoul, is also using magic. An actor changes a candle into a scarf, and into a rose. This magic takes the role of a catalyst to boost the fantastic atmosphere of this performance.

○ From ‘Catalyst’ To ‘Master’ Of Theatre

In the past, magic used to be a pastime appeared on television programs. But, as for the young generation, magic has become an ‘Attractive Hobby’ or a genre in which one ‘Wanna Be Gullible’

Park Geun-soo, 20, the head of magic performance circle in A-joo University, said “It has been 3 years since I first learned magic techniques. It is a very good hobby for me and for the other people in same time.” He added, “I think of magic as a ‘Categorical Art’, not just a ‘Fake’.”

As like reflecting on this trend, the first magic exclusive theatre, ‘Magic Leaders’ Theatre’, has opened up in Seoul. ‘Winter’, which mixes up dancing, dramatic performance and magic all together, is currently being presented in this theatre. Because, the magicians are only between 21 to 26 years old, attracting the people’s attention a lot.

“Magic is a genre of performing arts which fill in the demand of ‘Human Instincts’ that pursue fantastic and strange things,” Lee Eun-kyul said, adding “The techniques of magic has been unveiled through television recently, many people take interests in it.”

swon@donga.com