When 20th-century American illusionist Harry Blackstone Sr, and later his magician son Harry Jr, made a glowing light bulb float in the air with no strings attached, there would be gasps from the audience as people mumbled: “That’s impossible”.
Unlike most great magicians, who take the closely guarded secrets of their signature tricks with them to the grave, just before his death, in 1997, Harry Jr shared the key to the illusion with a rising-star illusionist from the Netherlands. Now the floating light bulb is the showstopping highlight, so to speak, of magician Hans Klok's stage show. You can see it for yourself when Hans Klok: The New Houdini arrives at du Forum on Friday and Saturday. The 46-year-old, who has earned the tag of the world's fastest illusionist, will reimagine illusions by Harry Houdini, Harry Blackstone and Howard Thurston during a variety show that also features acrobats, jugglers and dancers, making for a complete evening of family entertainment.
This seems to be the Golden Age of magic. Why do you think there is this revival of interest now?
There are different kinds of magic out there at the moment. There is street magic which is very popular, and grand illusions such as those by David Copperfield. I think we live in difficult times now, so people like to be amazed and forget those worries with magic shows. They like to go out and see something impossible. It gives them something to think about.
What can the audience expect from your show?
I will be brining my latest touring show called The New Houdini. It is about the life of the greatest illusionist ever – Harry Houdini. He was a Bulgarian guy and became one of the most famous illusionists, mastering the art of escape. I will share a little bit about his life and show some of his acts, but translated for the time we live in right now. So I will make them a bit more dangerous. I've also included different kinds of trickery such asmind-reading, hypnosis and sleight of hand. When you want to dream with your eyes wide open, just come to my show.
What about Houdini fascinates you?
I have always been impressed by his feats. My grandfather saw Houdini performing when he was a child. He told what about this amazing man and I always wondered how he managed those illusions. He invented a lot of magic. I thought if I make a new show, it would be one to honour him because thanks to him and some other great artists such as Blackstone and Thurston, we are still performing. We use some of their secrets to enthral our audiences.
Your showstopper is Blackstone’s floating bulb act. How did you get hold of that secret?
I did a show in England in 1988 and that was the only time I worked with Blackstone junior. I was only 19 and he saw me perform at a convention and complemented me. I asked him: ‘How does the floating light bulb work’? He responded: It works very well. He said he’d hand me the secret one day. And sure, 15 years later before he died, he taught me how to perform it. I was honoured. I’m the only magician allowed to perform that illusion today. The other showstopper, just before the intermission, will be the underwater escape routine.
How will you be modernising Houdini’s stunts?
I’m going to make them more dangerous. People today are a bit spoilt, so you have to do tricks faster now. I do the escape act upside down – hanging in air and locked up in a straitjacket. And now with all the advancements, we can make these huge monster contraptions that heighten the challenge for magicians. In my show, you’ll feel like you are in a flying time machine that will take you to the time of Houdini and Blackstone.
What else is part of your variety show?
Our troupe consists of 40 members of jugglers, acrobats, dancers and my famulus.
For people who do not believe in such artistry, how will you convince them to watch the show?
There will always be people who don’t believe in what they don’t understand. But as magic is seeing a revival, many people aren’t questioning it, but just enjoying the amazement they feel at watching disappearing and escaping acts. I don’t have super natural powers. Like any other art that fascinates, this too is all the art of magic.
• Hans Klok will be performing at the du Forum- Yas Island on August 21 and 22. Tickets are priced from Dh195 and can be booked on www.tixbox.com
aahmed@thenational.ae