Michael Boyd
Magic shows might seem like an old fashioned form of entertainment these days, particularly because we've all watched the shows which reveal magician's secrets. However, according to magician & illusionist Michael Boyd in reality he has witnessed the exact opposite response to his shows.
Speaking to Pario recently Michael explained further, "I'm finding that people want to see magic more & more these days... I think with the way life it as the moment, being so complicated, people just want to have a few hours where they can sit & escape into a world of magic."
On Thursday, September 29, Sydneysiders will have an opportunity to do just that when Michael brings his grandest show yet, Mystique, to the historic stage of the State Theatre. Describing the show Michael said, "Mystique is the best of the best illusions that I have - many of which I rarely perform."
One such illusion is entitled, The Scorpion, & features a giant robot scorpion in a death defying escape act.
"I get locked inside the scorpion as a blade descends into the box that I'm in & I have to escape," said Michael excitedly. "I like living on the edge & getting that adrenaline rush but I always worry with these things because it's technology. If something goes wrong it's not the magic that's gone wrong but as we all know technology fails at times. Will that blade come crashing down on the box & chop me in two? Well, you'll have to come to the show & see - hopefully it wont!"
As we continued our conversation with Michael we came to learn that The Scorpion set him back $50,000, but for him the true key to a wonderful magic show experience doesn't rest in the expensive props. Rather, according to Michael everything comes back to "presentation & showmanship."
"It's not so much the magic trick but the presentation that you give to it that gives a show life & makes it really magical," said Michael. "There's only a small part of the secret that you learn & practice but the showmanship is really what sells it."
How it all started
You might wonder 'How does anybody get into this line of work?' Well, for Michael he came to learn that his journey with magic was perhaps in his blood because his grandfather was actually a magician as well.
"When I started out as a kid I remember I had the little lightbulb trick which instilled a passion for magic in me. So, I was buying every magic trick or show bag I could but then I discovered that my grandfather was a magician in the 1920-30s. He toured with a half magic half silent movie show, so he became my hero as we bonded over magic.
"I remember my Grandfather had the old linking rings called 'The Chinese Linking Rings' where they link & unlink. I remember seeing that trick & it became so special to me because he taught it to me. It's quite a difficult illusion to perform & takes a lot of practice, so we really bonded over this trick," recalled Michael. "I still do that trick in my show because it is a really important memory for me & it still gets a great reaction when I perform it in the shows."
Outside the world of magic
Once Michael steps off the stage he becomes just your regular sole-parent father who can often be found running the boundary of his daughter's AFL games. Much like any growing child Michael said his daughter has moments where she wishes "dad had a normal job" but she's also incredibly "proud" of him.
For Michael although there's "lots of glitz, glamour, sequins & ladies levitating" when he's at performing at the end of the day it is just a job like everybody else's. However, he understands that he he is "very lucky to be making a living from something that I love."
Follow Michael's Creative Journey on Social Media: @mystiquemaggicandillusion or @michaelboydtheillusionist
Sep 29. State Theatre, 47-51 Market Street, Sydney. $49-$79+b.f. Tickets & Info: www.statetheatre.com.au
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