Kibworth & Smeeton WI
Snow was forecast on 8 January, our meeting night. With none falling by 6.30pm our intrepid president, Teresa, set out from Oadby. Other members, braving the cold, began to arrive, just 16 in all. We shelved the business part of the meeting and settled down for the talk.
Recent talk
Bishop Peter Fox led us through ‘A History of Stage Magic’. He told us that the first written accounts of magic came from ancient Egypt and the first references to a magic wand and the magicians of Egypt are in the Bible – in Exodus. On the walls of a tomb are pictures of juggling and the trick using cups and four balls, which have been performed for thousands of years. In the 1700s, street performers were still showing the trick but the Greeks, poor performers, reduced it to three balls!
In 1584, Queen Elizabeth I’s time, people were trying to find explanations for things they didn’t understand, including magic tricks. Witches were blamed for everything, and hanged. At this time the rope trick was introduced – cutting the rope in two then miraculously joining it together again.
Peter spoke about a book, “How to do Magic” which explained tricks. Apparently cutting a face (or body) asunder and putting it back together again “ if well handled, will seem miraculous”! We learned of the Golden Age of Stage Magic in London, when magicians had developed their own specialities, such as the spectacular Houdini. When the Chinese took London by storm, they brought sensational costumes and colour to the stage. Bishop Peter involved some of us in the Chinese linking rings trick, when he looped five large rings on our forearms and made them link and separate before our eyes.
It was an absorbing talk, but we had to persuade him to bring it to a close because the snow was settling!
Future events
Looking forward, we are holding an SOS Fashion Show on Tuesday 14 April at the Kibworth Community Hub.
Well known clothing brands will be modelled, followed by an opportunity to snap up some bargains. More details will follow next month, so save the date!
Pat Sharman
What’s going on
