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(Reproduced from the Sunday Times of February 17, 2002) "My first trick was to tear a piece of paper into shreds and restore it before everyone's eyes." By Laila NasryWednesday, February 13. It's 5.30 p.m. and I'm a half-hour late for my interview with a magician. Absurdly I think, 'What if he turns me into a toad, out of anger?' Half
way through the door after our brief introductions, he stops me in my
tracks. Fishing out a green plume, he proclaims, "I'm going to
perform a trick." I nearly pass out. Please God, not a toad, I think.
Covering
the top half of the plume, he says, "blow" and I do as I'm told.
"One two, one two." Hey presto! He uncovers a red plumed rose
and presents it to me with a flourish. Ah, chivalry, it still ain't dead.
Taking
a seat, now completely at ease (toad thoughts well out of my mind), I
boldly venture to ask him, "Can you not get gold coins from my
ears?", visions of my empty purse flashing in my mind. Without
a word he clenches his fist. After a few chants and a bit of movement
there sitting snugly in his palm is an original gold coin. My eyes are
ready to pop out. Ronald
de Alwis, clad in a vibrant purple shirt with silver pin stripes, black
pants and a colourful tie, looked every inch the magician sans the top
hat. Second runner-up in the Magic Competition (Juniors) in 1952, the
winner of the Magician of the Year in 1962, Magic Open Contest in 1968 and
currently the President of the Magic Circle, life for him has been one big
'abracadabra'. Ronald
became the youngest member of the Magic Circle at the age of 17. From the
tender age of five he watched his famous magician father, Linden de Alwis
go about his tricks. "We had a separate room in our house where my
father stored all his things. There used to be a large mirror in it and I
would go in there and handle his tricks. The mirror was my audience."
Soon
he became his father's able assistant travelling with him during World War
II to all parts of the country performing at war charities. "The
Government Agents would organise the shows and my father and I, pile into
his Austin or take the train to various destinations, at times accompanied
by my father's back up musicians Sheldon Perera on the violin and Clement
Cumaravel on the piano accordion." Ronald's
first magic break came at 13 when he was invited by the Brother Director
of his alma mater, St. Mary's College, Chilaw to perform at a school
charity show. "My first trick was to tear up a piece of paper into
shreds and restore it before everyone's eyes." As
an arts graduate at the University of Ceylon he performed tricks on his
subordinates. "I used to 'haunt' my friends in the Ramanathan
Hall," he says with a chuckle. Whilst
a teacher at the Ingaradauva Maha Vidyalaya, he received a telegram
informing him of an interview to join the Army, an ambition he had
entertained though he was neither a scout nor a cadet. "I received it
at 8 at night and my interview was at 8 the following morning."
Hitching a ride in a fibre lorry he got there on time but in a terrible
state having been drenched in the rain. Coat
off and sleeves rolled up he presented himself before the board and
charmed his way to selection with a few tricks. "I borrowed two
rupees from Captain Sriyananda who was a panellist and made it disappear.
Then I told them that if they chose me or not it didn't matter because I
had just found my bus fare home." In
the Army too, he was up to his tricks and was the only officer offered
three days leave to go home to get his goods for a magic show. Now
a full time magician, Ronald's diary is brimming with appointments, to
perform at various functions from kids' birthday parties to family
get-togethers. So much so that he doesn't have much time to devote to
practice alone. "But always before a performance I play my music and
get into the rhythm of things." Shows
are all about the audience, he says. "If it's a kids' show I must
come down to their level. Make them feel important. For the adults it's
more about patter, humour, etc." The
reward for him is enthusiasm in audience participation. "When around
20-25 people come rushing up as volunteers for the tricks" his day is
made. However, such enthusiasm hasn't always proved to be heartening.
Recounting
a show he put up at Timex Garments, Maharagama, he says, "I got a
volunteer from the audience for my guillotine chop trick." At the end
of the trick after putting her neck on the line, the volunteer had been in
tears and immediately swooned, he remembers. "I
had some water from a previous trick and quickly sprinkled it with an
'abracadabra' and she came round. Luckily the audience thought it was all
part of the trick but I nearly had a heart attack." Magicana
Entertainment, established by Ronald also teaches newcomers the art of
magic. "Except for my grand-daughter none of my children were
interested in magic. So I thought I'll teach. Open for those 12 years and
above, he hopes to expand it to include executives and those in the field
of marketing. Performing magic tricks can help break the monotony in the
boardroom and build up a rapport with one's subordinates," he says.
"All
you need to have is personality, rhythm, an eye for entertainment, a few
acting skills, sleight of hand and the ability to gauge the
audience." "Magic
is more than just performing tricks. It makes you feel young at
heart," says this 66-year-old who for a good part of his life has
been the centre of attraction. "Everyone calls you, knows you. I have
now stopped taking out advertisements in the newspapers or the yellow
pages." The immense thrill, he says is "the satisfaction you get
when the audience is all fascination and awe. It teaches you punctuality
and to gauge people's moods and cater to it accordingly." As
President of the 80-year-old Magic Circle, Ronald hopes to share the magic
with fellow 'tricksters'. Having started as the Association of Ceylon
Magicians with a small group of just seven, the Circle has widened to 130
members, including 35 professionals. The original bandwagon headed by Gate
Mudaliyar A.C.G.S. Amerasekera and later R. Bodinagoda of Lake House fame,
included architects, coroners, judges, etc. The organisation affiliated to
the International Brotherhood of Magicians organised several festivals of
magic to keep this profession and art alive. The
problems faced by magicians do not disappear like magic. "We too can
produce David Copperfields," says Ronald, "but we lack funding
and sponsors." He feels their showmanship suffers as they have
problems transporting their equipment, special lights etc. which also cost
a lot. "The banks are not comfortable about giving loans. Maybe they
are scared we will disappear with the money." Also
the attitude of the public in no way contributes to their upliftment.
"Most people are willing to pay exorbitant ticket prices and go for
shows when international magicians come down but are not willing to spend
when it comes to a local magician.' Having
been donated land at Templer's Road, Attidiya, the Magic Circle is looking
to set up their headquarters there. Currently in the process of collecting
funds for their building, they hope such an establishment will enable them
to promote magic in Sri Lanka. "We are looking to train new magicians
in the field and create a healthy relationship between those already in
the profession." Next on the Magic Circle agenda is a trip to the north. "We are still in the process of organising it. But we want to go to Jaffna and the Wanni and perform to our soldiers to give them a boost." Hoping for a little magicThe Magic Circle is looking for donations of money and building materials for the construction of their headquarters. Interested donors can contact President Ronald de Alwis on 852998 or 810740/ Secretary Joy de Silva on 853335.
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