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Big Daddy Cool Inner circle 1604 Posts |
I met Tobias Beckwith a few weeks ago when I was performing in Las Vegas at Jeff McBride's Wonderground. We had an instant kinship - an uncanny one. In the days that followed we talked via e-mail and he asked me to send him a copy of my book Theatrical Magic. In turn he sent me his book, Beyond Deception.
For those of you unfamiliar with Tobias, he has been the director/manager/creative consultant for Jeff McBride and Marco Tempest for years. His work as a director, writer and teacher have also helped and inspired thousands of other performers, myself included. This is an amazing little book! I say little, because it is only 121 pages long. But the saying that good things come in small packages is definitely true. The information is solid, practical, and enlightening. Further, it is easy to digest. Tobias writes in a very engaging style that most readers will appreciate. I read through the entire book in one sitting. This book delivers on its promise to help you create original magic. The primary premise that Tobias lays out is that as a human being you are naturally an agent of creation, and that you do have the ability to create original and unique magical presentations. This is an important thought to examine because so many magicians tend to believe that they are not gifted with creative abilities like a Jeff McBride, Max Maven, Eugene Burger, or whoever you find wonderfully inventive and original. Tobias points out that this is a falacy, and the information in the book will help unleash the latent creativity inside you. The exercises Mr. Beckwith teaches in the book are practical and work! I know, because I use some of them already myself. Of great interest to me was the "Center of Energy" exercise. This was a concept that I had not encountered before, but it ties in closely with my "Time, Space & Weight" exercise in Theatrical Magic. I will definitely try incorporating the Center of Energy theory into my work on physicality. The most facsinating portion of the book for me was a transcript of a Mystery School workshop session in which Jeff McBride discusses a technique to create original material called the "Passion Peice." In short it is an examination and experiment with Divergent and Convergent Thinking that is really exciting! Althogh I had never explored this technique as presented, I realized about halfway through that I have been doing this naturally for years! Again, this exercise ties in very well with the principles I discuss in Theatrical Magic and teach my students. I will be using this exercise more deliberately from now on. Finally, Tobias includes some wonderful theatre games and exercises to get your creative juices flowing and to sharpen your acting chops. This is important, because like me, Tobias sees magic as a branch of theatre, and the magician as an actor. By the way, Tobias doesn't just quote Houdin and accept his word as gospel. Tobias actually examines the meaning of the word "actor" and the purpose of the actor. Through this examination he makes a solid argument that the magician is an actor - one that would be difficult to rebuff. This book is going to go on my shelf right between Magic & Meaning and Maximum Entertainment. Because it is such a great compliment to my own book, I will be recommending it in tandem with Theatrical Magic. And, all of my students will be receiving it as a Christmas gift. But keep that a secret please... Beyond Deception is available through your favorite dealer, or from Tobias directly at http://www.beyonddeception.com. |
The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » Books, Pamphlets & Lecture Notes » » Deyond Deception by Tobias Beckwith (0 Likes) |
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