Magic Is Not Just Kid Stuff, Says Magician

Page 34 T cjnews.com THE CANADIAN JEWISH NEWS June 10, 2010 And now for something completely different: Magic is not just kid stuff, says magician By CARA STERN David Copperfield’s Project Magic, which brings The goal, Train says, is to bring more CJN Intern magicians into hospitals to teach physically chal- Israeli magicians to Canada. Many of them lenged people how to perform sleight of hand. have moved to North America to chase greater fter 15 years of performing magic He loves sharing his abilities, insisting that success, so it isn’t too expensive to bring them shows, Ben Train says he rarely sees magic should be inclusive. He teaches a free in, he says. a trick that fools him. But when he monthly class at the Browser’s Den, at Bathurst He says his favourite tricks are the ones in- does, he wants to keep it that way. Street and Eglinton Avenue in Toronto. volving gambling. For example, an audience It’s really special to see something One of the biggest challenges in learning to member might shuffle a deck and, without Ayou just don’t understand, he says. That’s why he perform magic was finding people and resources looking, Train would pick out poker hands such loves performing his illusions for adults. to help him improve his skills, he says. Magicians as four-of-a-kind aces or a royal flush. “Everybody thinks of magic as something for tend to insist on secrecy, which makes it a ex- He learned many of his card tricks from The children, but I really think it’s more intelligent clusive community, and one that’s very difficult Expert at the Card Table, by S. W. Erdnase. and intellectual,” he says. “It’s certainly family to break into. “It’s a hard book to study, and it’s a really friendly, but this isn’t kids’ magic.” But Train says whether it’s an art, craft or phi- important book,” he says. “There are a lot of The 25-year-old philosophy major first discov- losophy, experts should be willing to take new people who really like that book, but there ered a love of magic when he was eight years old, performers under their wing and teach them a are not a lot of people who can actually do an interest that he says is not unusual for kids. foundation of skills. the material.” “I think all young boys have an interest in “Everybody knows the first rule of being a ma- The fact that he does understand the book magic,” he says. “The only difference with me is gician is that you don’t tell people how your tricks has opened doors, he says, giving him the op- I didn’t outgrow it.” are done,” he says. “But if you’re really serious, portunity to meet many celebrities. When he was 16, he tutored a child at a house I’d teach you anything you’d want to know.” “There’s a lot of people who have had an across the street from a magic store, he says. He His favourite magician is Dai Vernon, a Cana- interest in magic,” he says, citing examples purchased a trick deck and learned to perform it dian magician who lived until he was 98. Train such as comedian Colin Mochrie, members of that night. describes him as a pioneer of one-on-one magic, punk rock band Billy Talent and television host The next day, he went back to the store and such as David Blaine’s street magic. Ben Mulroney. watched someone demonstrate the same trick – As a young Jew, he sees similarities between He says the magic world is different from but this time, it was with a normal deck, per- the magic and Jewish communities. Both, he other forms of entertainment. Someone who’s formed using sleight of hand. says, are very welcoming. No matter where he interested in movies can’t just call up Steven From that moment, he was hooked. goes, he says there’s always a family willing to Spielberg for advice. But in the magic com- Becoming a magician wasn’t easy, he says. It share their home or a Shabbat dinner. munity, once a magician knows the person is involved fine-tuning his motor skills, learning to “With magic, it’s the same thing,” he explains. serious, he or she is usually happy to talk. speak in front of a crowd and becoming comfort- “When I go to a [foreign] city, I don’t But the best thing about magic is it surprises able chatting with a group of strangers. go to a hotel. There’s always people. His mother, Shayne Train, says his personality someone who will let me stay “[With technology,] we’re never surprised really contributes to his ability to put on a great at their home.” anymore,” he says, explaining that we can performance. He points out there are use search engines to know exactly what “Part of being a magician is being able to dis- several magic stores in will happen in a movie before we see it. tract people while you’re doing the tricks,” she predominantly Jewish “We know everything that’s happening in says. “He could be a standup comedian as well.” areas of Toronto, such as front of us.” Ben Train says, when he performs, he doesn’t the Browser’s Den. But not with magic. That’s what makes lie to his audience. He knows he doesn’t have Train will perform a show it so special, he says. “Magic sort of throws magical powers, and he doesn’t let them think with Asi Wind, an accom- that for a loop.” otherwise. Instead, he assures them he per- plished Israeli magician, For tickets to Train and Wind’s June 14th forms illusions. at a club in Toronto magic show at Trane Studio, 964 Bathurst He also accommodates his show to fit his au- in mid-June. St., visit http://abracadabaret.com/. dience, even going so far as to perform a magic show for blind people by using tactile tricks as opposed to visual ones. For example, one trick involves having a blind audience member taste a sweet treat and a sour drink. Without going near the taster, he says he would reverse the tastes of the foods, transforming it into a sour treat and a sweet drink. He says he loves the feeling of making people happy with his show, and loves performing for sick children. “It’s pretty special to be able to show it to someone who’s unhappy or ill, and it brightens their day,” he says. He joined in on illusionist CHECK OUT OUR BLOG @ HEEBONICS.CA.

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