20th July 2021.
Sydney is back in a Covid-19 lockdown so for our July meeting our president, Dale Trueman organised for Jay Scott Berry to lecture to our members and to the friends of The Maurice Rooklyn Ring via Zoom.
Jay Scott Berry born in the USA first came to Australia and lectured in Sydney early this century. He was so impressed with our lifestyle that in 2007 he returned to make Australia his home and he has lived in the small mid north coast town of Wingham NSW which is a little over 300 Kilometres (190 miles) north of Sydney. Jay has set up multiple video studio’s in his home and his lecture was run under very impressive professional conditions. He will be very happy to lecture to other rings or magic groups around the world if you contact him.
Jay’s magic is aimed at the parlour and small stage performer. He uses playing cards, coins, silks ribbons sponge balls etc. His effects under these conditions appear like real magic with items appearing and vanishing in his hands by using gimmicks from the era of Professor Hoffman, but using new and modern techniques. Because of the small sizes of most of his props the effect may be lost on a large stage. The advantage of all of Jay’s material though is “that it packs flat, plays big”.
Jay’s lecture commenced with a performance video, he then gave a full explanation going into complete details of his gimmicks and methods and the reasons behind his thinking. The routine commenced with a ring on wand routine and a torn and restored bill effect with a mis-made bill as an interlude. We then witnessed a silk scarf that changed to a sponge ball and more sponges kept appearing from his bare hands, they changed colour and then turned back into the silk. Jay kept reinforcing that many of his effects start clean and end clean, they go full circle.
After a break Jay performed another routine, he produced large coins from his silk scarf and then vanished them. A joker was torn up, restored and changed into a jack using the same techniques and style of gimmicks used in the first half. He then performed a routine where the scarf visually and repeatedly penetrate a large ring. This was “reel” magic in both meanings of the word. After the explanations Jay showed us how to make giveaway roses from tissue paper napkins.
Jay concluded the lecture by answering questions that appeared to be never ending from his enthusiastic Zoom audience.
Peter Rodgers
Sydney Magic Club 