WE MET JONATHAN PENDRAGON ALONG WITH HIS WIFE AND PERFORMING PARTNER, CHARLOTTE ( AND THEIR TWO DOGS ) AT A MAGIC CONVENTION. J
ONATHAN GAVE A FANTASTIC TALK AND DEMONSTRATION. JONATHAN AND CHARLOTTE WORK TOGETHER WONDERFULLY ...THEY ARE VERY ATHLETIC AND CAPITALIZE ON THIS IN THEIR PERFORMANCES.
( DID YOU KNOW THAT JONATHAN PENDRAGON IS A FORMER HOLLYWOOD STUNTMAN ? HE DOUBLED FOR JOHN BELUSHI IN "THE BLUES BROTHERS" DOING A SERIES OF INSANE BACK-FLIPS DOWN THE AISLE IN A STUFFED SUIT DESIGNED TO MAKE HIM APPEAR LIKE THE BULKIER BELUSHI. )
I WAS IMPRESSED WITH HIS UPBEAT ATTITUDE, HIS DOWN TO EARTH HONESTY AND HIS IDEAS AND THOERIES.
I AGREE WITH HIM THAT MAGICIANS SHOULD NOT FEEL DEVASTATED BECAUSE OF THE "EXPOSURE" TELEVISION SPECIALS.
JONATHAN SAID THAT MAGICIANS SHOULD NOT DEPEND SO MUCH ON "SECRETS". SOME MAGICIANS FEEL THAT IF THE :SECRETS" ARE DISCOVERED THAN THE MAGIC IS WORTHLESS.
BUT AS JONATHAN POINTED OUT, ...IN PUPPETRY EVERYONE KNOWS THAT THEY ARE WATCHING JUST PUPPETS . THE SECRET IS "OUT". THE AUDIENCE ACCEPTS THIS AND MOVES BEYOND IT TO APPRECIATE THE "PERFORMANCE".
I FEEL IT IS THE SAME WITH MOVIES...TODAY'S AUDIENCES ARE FAIRLY FAMILIAR WITH HOW SPECIAL EFFECTS WORK BUT THEY STILL ALLOW THEMSELVES TO SUSPEND DISBELIEF AND ENJOY THE MOVIE.
OF COURSE SECRECY IS IMPORTANT TO THE MAGICIAN,,, BUT A MAGICIAN NEEDS TO CONCENTRATE ON GIVING GOOD PRESENTATIONS AND MAKE THAT THE FOCUS. NOT JUST THE SECRETS. THERE ARE A FEW STANDARD MAGIC EFFECTS THAT HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN "KIDS" MAGIC SETS FOR DECADES AND EVEN THOUGH THE SECRETS ARE OUT THERE ... A SKILLED, "ENTERTAINING" PERFORMER CAN TAKE THESE SIMPLE "KIDS" TRICKS AND STILL MESMERIZE AN AUDIENCE!
THE AVERAGE PERSON WHO SEES SOME SECRETS EXPOSED ON THOSE "MASKED MAGICIAN" TV SPECIALS ACTUALLY FORGETS THE SECRETS...AND WHEN THEY SEE THE SAME ILLUSION WITH A NEW PRESENTATION OR AN ORIGINAL TWIST BY AN INNOVATIVE AND ENTERTAINING PERFORMER THEY ARE AMAZED ONCE AGAIN .
JONATHAN AND CHARLOTTE PENDRAGON ARE GREAT PERFORMERS AND FRIENDLY PEOPLE !