FISM STAGE CONTEST :: BY CRAIG MITCHELL

So we are back at it - bright & breezy Tuesday morning ... I am amazed how many are here for the early morning start.

Mike Close provides the musical accompaniment between acts - but FISM undoubtedly needs the magical touch of Frank Wilson ( nothing could ever beat 'magic all over the world' ;-)

Looking back - still no stand out acts ... we're still searching for the 'one' that just screams 'winner'

1. Wang Qimo - Illusions - China
A massive projection screen heralds the arrival of the purple-pants wearing illusionist. Picture sim-city style animation which has a little car racing about on the screen. The digital car zooms about and then the funniest looking plastic, gimmicky car drives on from stage left. Uhmmm - sorry to burst the bubble - but driving the car on from the side of the stage isn't exactly magical. Our display of fake plastic vehicles continued as we had an animated helicopter appear on screen ... the digital helicopter descends ( and thankfully there was a magical transformation here ) and a 'real' helicopter appears. Perhaps helicopters look different in China - this one was positively flat with the smallest rotor imaginable.

2. Siebensinn - General Magic - Germany
A dramatic story driven act revolving around the theme of the puzzle of life - and a puzzle in which larger and larger pieces are added while still remaining the same size ( one of those acts you would have needed to see ) Deep.

3. Roman Burenkov - Comedy - Russia
Comedy which wasn't funny. A cooking routine ( warning sign already ) If you want to perform at FISM please don't bring your dove pan and milk pitcher with.

4. Trond Hagen - Manipulation - Norway
At last - our FIRST DISQUALIFICATION ... the infamous red light takes its toll as the curtains closed early on this poor performer. WIth visible steals and bulging pockets - the act was no where near FISM standard ( but then those are always the most memorable )

5. Jiang Qiuwei - General - China
Flowers. Feather flowers. Spring Flowers. More flowers. A paddle move with a leaf ( the things we hanker after ) A blossomming tree - less is more - and thousands of delightful flowers.

6. Tony Montana - Mentalism - Argentina
Tim Ellis was up on stage as one of Tony's volunteers in a strange and confusing act with predicted pictures of watches, a photo prediction with no motivation and a final prediction in a clear transparent tube. Why ?

7. The Tramp - General - Switzerland
Attention spanned wanes during the tramp's act which suffered from poor pacing. Fire to pocket watch, bill productions, restored newspaper and zombie lite.
8. Avon Lee - General - Hong Kong
Another Lee Eun Gyeol with pulsating music, doves, vanishing canes, dropped candles ... nothing that hasn't been seen.

9. Yo Kato - Manipulation - Japan
A crowd favourite with color changing wands, appearing wands, vanishing wands, thimbles and more. Very slick that received a partial standing ovation.

10. Liao Xiarun - General - China
A traditional Chinese archer featuring some non-traditional magic including the 'we make the mask disappear by putting it behind our back' trick along with my favourite the 'appearing fishing pole that was on the floor all along' illusion

11. Nicolai Friedrich - Mentalisn - Germany
Nicolai themes his act around the emotional importance of pictures. A volunteer places a photo inside a stack of envelopes which are distributed amongst the audience. Nicolai then divines name of the person, personal details, location of the photo etc.

12. Jei Min - Illusions - Korea
Our illusionist dons a 'plastic Elvis wig' and in full Elvis costume - dances to the strains of Chubby Checker's Let's Twist Again. Why ? A zombie guitar & guitar broomstick suspension follows with a production of a man dressed as a woman from a very flimsy cage. Why ? We are still not sure. Saving grace - a beautiful levitation at the end.

13. Alan - Manipulation - Taiwan ( or as renamed at FISM Chinese Taipei )
Cards to silk, fans, billiard balls, color changing fans, fan two confetti and a color changing table.

14. Berk Eratay - Mentalism - Turkey
Sponsored by Joan Caesar - I need to ask whether Joan actually watched this act before choosing to sponsor it ? Anyone following the reports would know that Sue-Anne Webster has become one of the de facto volunteers at FISM -- and has already suffered at the hands of some pig-headed magicians who think it entertaining to provide electric shocks to their volunteers. Well - it was Sue-Anne's turn again. In a bizarre Hannibal Lecter style routine, Sue-Anne is provided with a voodoo doll and stabs it in various places. Mr Lecter is supposed to illustrate where he gets stabbed - but points to all the wrong places. In part 2, Sue-Anne becomes the victim of the doll - and gets shocked multiple times. What is wrong with these people ?

15. PJ Wen - General Magic - Taiwan
Set in a bedroom, we have lightbulb to liquid to mirror glasss ( yes mirror glass at FISM ) Appearing pink underwear ( he wanted to show us that he was wearing them ) and appearing flowers and girl.

And so ends the stage contest on Tues 28 July.