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By Han Sang-hee
In a world overloaded with too much information and technology, old-school magic tricks may not be enough to entertain the public nowadays. However, the wonder of slicing pretty ladies in half and pulling a rabbit out of a hat never grows old, and it always brings out a gasp here and there along with a hint of nostalgia.
Korean magician Lee Eun-gyeol hopes his audience will bring a bit of nostalgia and imagination with them for his new show “The Illusion,” which he has been preparing for the past year after completing military service.
“I was worried before, during and after I left the military,” he said laughing.
“I think my worries are mostly about my next move: I’ve done magic shows for the past 10 years, now what?” he told the press during a conference at Chungmu Art Hall last Thursday.
It was time for the 29-year-old to try something new, which was exactly why he prepared a performance that would hopefully show the audience a new side of him and his magic.
True to his word, “The Illusion” will be more than masked magicians transforming magic wands into flowers, with an entire section focused on what Lee sees as his destiny as a magician.
The first act will offer original magic tricks but on a much bigger scale. Walking onto the stage of the Chungmu Art Hall was a delightful experience itself, with colorful towers and structures decorating the whole stage from top to bottom. Strong drum beats signaled the start and Lee jumped out on to the stage with a big smile.
The tricks were old, but they were good ones with a more modern twist. “Chopping” up his fiery-eyed assistant into nine parts with long, sharp-edged spears was one of them, for instance, but it was presented with style and flair, proving that the young magician took time working on presentation as well. His every move, costume and hand gesture worked perfectly with the music and lighting, making him look like an actor in a musical.
The second act continued with Lee talking about his childhood, his worries as a magician and his experience in Africa which he visited a few months back. He was apparently inspired by the people and culture of Africa, as he prepared a shadow performance using only his hands and even his hair to depict a love story with “Circle of Life,” the original soundtrack of the animation “Lion King” as the backdrop.
“Some may think this (shadow performance) is not magic, but for me it wasn’t about making animals with my hands. I wanted to bring a little bit of Africa to the audience: give them an illusion that they were actually there. That’s what I think magicians should think about at an age where all the secrets are out in the open, and this is my way of reestablishing my career,” he said.
A simple click of a mouse would show various clips made with such shadow acts, but, like Lee mentioned, it was the overall experience. It was very entertaining and nostalgic as well, complete with the music, the lighting, the settings and the adorable animals and people dancing and acting on a plain white screen.
In order to produce such a large-scale show, Lee had to ask for the assistance of one of the world’s most influential art directors in the magic business: Don Wayne.
Wayne has worked with numerous top singers and magicians, including David Copperfield, Britney Spears and Michael Jackson, and he traveled all the way to Korea to help Lee build his dream. He met Lee through a project three years ago, and after watching the Korean magician work, he decided to help him on his journey.
“It’s not about pushing the (magic) bar higher and higher, but pushing the bar of art theater,” Wayne said.
“David (Copperfield) pushed himself to be the best he could and tried to make it better than someone who’d done it before, but with (Lee), he doesn’t stop at just being good. David is mostly going after the dramatics, but (Lee) is going a little but further,” he added.
Lee admitted the lack of interest toward magic and magicians in Korea, but for the young magician, this was exactly the reason that made him go on.
“People are looking for more dramatic and more provocative forms of entertainment, and it’s my job to offer them the unimaginable, in other words, an illusion. That’s exactly why we have magic, and also the very reason I’m still here on stage,” Lee said.
“Magic’s biggest role is showing people that anything is possible. There is a bit of a stereotypical notion among Koreans that magic is trickery and scams, mainly because we don’t have any history of it. I consider this journey as creating the history of Korean magic, and I do hope the audience will join me on my trip,” he added.
“The Illusion” will take place at the Chungmu Art Hall through Dec. 4. Tickets cost from 30,000 won to 150,000 won. For more information, visit www.interpark.com or call (02) 501-7888.
sanghee@koreatimes.co.kr
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