Last year, we introduced a fellowship dinner (buffet dinner for members without any formal progam) because our Anniversary Dinner was replaced by a one-day mini magic convention in celebration of our 60th anniversary.

This fellowship dinner turned out to be such a success that there were many requests to repeat it this year.  This request was taken up and we felt that December, with its end-year festive mood, was the best month to have the fellowship dinner.

As early as 6.30pm, members arrived at the Bayview Coffee House in the evening of 15 December 2011for a buffet dinner.  There was no formal program for the evening.  There was no need to – whenever magicians gather, there will be magic!  Members brought along tricks and sporadic groups were seen enjoying magical performances by themselves.
 
A total of 35 people attended, including our very own J C Sum and a visiting magician from Taiwan, Huan Jun Jie, who was a champion of a TV magic competition in Taiwan. 

A large portion of the Coffee House was blocked off for our function.  There were 2 guests of the hotel who took the buffet dinner and they became perfect spectators for our magic performances.  One was a lady from Germany and the other was a couple from Switzerland.  They were so excited and told us afterwards that they were fortunate enough to be at the right place at the right time to enjoy this special magical dessert by us.  The waitresses, waiters and cashier also enjoyed themselves.

It was an enjoyable evening of food, fellowship and magic for all.

Reported by:
JOHN TEO

We celebrated our 61st Anniversary on 26 November 2011 at the RolandRestaurant.  This much-awaited event was well attended by 153 diners, and more than half of whom are friends and family members of our members.

Diners who arrived early were treated to table-hopping magic by Enrico Varella, Adeline Ng, Tan Jui Kuan, Baharudin, and John Teo.  After a welcome speech by President John Teo, the 8-course Chinese dinner commenced.

During the dinner, mementos were given out to Ring 115 patrons and members of the Management Committee.  Awards were also presented to following most-active members:  Pambudi, Chew Liang Huat, Tang Sai Thong, Tommy Kian and Jeremy Pei.
After dinner, it was time for stage magic.  The tables were rolled away and the chairs were rearranged in theatre style.  Opening the show was Joe Yu, with his fast-paced dove act and parakeet production act, culminating with dove to lionhead rabbit production.  He continued with red led (aka D’lite) effects, Orange-Lemon-Egg-Cage routine, and closed with kabuki launcher.

The second performer was Gician Tan.   He vanished a candle, produced 8 coins, and did his own version of professor’s nightmare, card through net, sucker colour-changing hankies and snowstorm in China.  Shawn Chua followed with a “Tricks 4 Food” sight gag.  Inviting a spectator on stage, Shawn transformed him into a human dummy with the “Mic Mouth”, a microphone that had an animated jaw attached to it.  Shawn proceeded to do magic with this human dummy whose voice was totally controlled by the performer.

Magician-ventriloquist Joseph Then introduced an unique Singapore dummy aptly named Ah Beng.  His dummy act with “Ah Beng” (what else?) jokes was hilarious and brought the house down with laughter.  The next performer was Wee Kien Meng aka Mr Bottle.  His repertoire consisted of colour-changing T-shirt, wine/glass transposition routine and gypsy thread.  Closing the show was Jeremy Pei.  As a tribute to the late Great Wong, he performed the Great Wong’s linking ring routine as a respect for the late magician’s wife and son who were present that evening.  Jeremy continued with silk and parasol act, snowstorm in China, and ended with a beautiful Japanese bamboo net manipulation act similar to the “troublewit” routine.

Door gifts were contributed by Gician Tan and Dr Eric Yap.  Lucky draws provided the lucky winners with additional joy.  The MC was Pambudi.  His comedy magic acts in-between his announcements, and his strange Indonesian accent kept us all entertained throughout the evening.  Reported by: JOHN TEO

The theme of September’s meeting was changed at the last minute to “An Evening With Shaun Yee”. This was to accommodate the visit of Shaun Yee and his wife Anna from Italy. Shaun was visiting his motherland, Malaysia, and decided to stop over in Singapore. This was Shaun’s fourth visit to our Ring 115.

The attendance on the evening of 15 September 2011 was 39. The venue was the function room of Bayview Hotel.

Shaun Yee presently runs a magic shop in Milan, Italy with his wife Anna. He brought along a trunk full of magic items to demonstrate and sell.

Shaun commenced with a short discourse on the art of manipulation. He explained why every magician should do some form of manipulation and sleight-of-hand magic. He demonstrated and explained card manipulations, showed how to prepare an ordinary deck of cards for manipulation, and how to do single and multiple card productions. He then went on to demonstrate and explain cigarettes manipulations.

From a request by one of the members, Shaun demonstrated and explained the “illusion” false shuffle. He then discussed various types of false shuffles and card control techniques.

It was time for demonstration and sales of magic items. Shaun brought along some 50 magic items. They comprised accessories such as Sanada Gimmick, devil’s handkerchiefs and manipulation and fanning decks, and classic magic effects such as appearing wands, dancing canes, haunted keys and serpent silks. Several effects are of his own originations such as Frisky Cards, Still Haunted and SY Rising Cards. Brisk sales was observed and many items were sold out.

It was a good time to catch up with this Asian magician who made it good in Europe.

Reported by:

JOHN TEO

Despite a cold and wet rainy afternoon, 39 people turned up in the evening of 15 July 2011 at the usual venue at BayView Hotel.Perhaps, the theme for the evening, “Auction Night” was the attraction.

After a short announcement of forth-coming events by President John Teo, the auctioneer, Kenneth Chia, and his assistant, Baharudin, took center stage and the auction began.

There was a total of 60 to 70 magic props, books and DVDs that went under the auctioneer’s gravel.  Ten percent of the total takings went to the coffers of Ring 115 for organizing the evening.  Our thanks went to member Aw Kun Seng, who donated 6 magic books for auction where the entire takings were contributed to Ring 115.  These books were hardbacks, and with titles such as “Richard Ross’ 3 Ring Routine”, “Complete Book of Derek Dingle”, “Michael Ammar’s Encore 3”, and “Richard Kaufman’s Coin Magic”, they were collectors’ items.

We were treated to a surprise performance of cups and balls by our lady member Adeline Ng.  Her routine was well put together and the various cups and balls moves were well executed, including the final loads.  She received a tremendous round of applause from all of us.

It was an interesting and exciting evening for all.  Those who bought got good bargains, and those who sold got rid of the magic wares that they did not want.  Everybody enjoyed seeing some old and classic magic items being displayed and demonstrated.

Reported by:

JOHN TEO