Today Fish and I did a real life magic show at Waban Health and Rehabilitation Center.  Fish has been doing shows for them for several years, and I’ve been helping him out on some of the shows for the last year or so.

We opened with a stirring rendition of Flying Purple People Eater from Fish, and some card magic.  Then I did a dramatic reading of Poe’s “The Raven” (older folks love good poetry — I wish more of our kids’ shows had that taste!).  We followed with more magic, including ropes and more cards, sponge balls, and various.  Then Fish gave a nearly rap version of Monster Mash, with the whole crowd clapping the rhythm.  I told a Zuni variant of the classic archetypical Opheus/Eurydice story, which had one woman in the front row weeping, but smiling.   And Fish closed with more cards, his amazing ring finger fantasy routine, and a contortionist trick he performed with the cooperation of Joanne, the activities director.

A good time was had by all.

I love the real life magic gigs, but I’m far more interested — and see such a larger future — for our work with art/magic/technology in mixed/augmented reality.