3 minute read
Why magic matters
By Gayle Dorio, Joshua Jay Magic Show chair
Perhaps you are like I am – pleased when I can’t figure out who the “bad guy” is due to all the twists and turns in the story. Suspense, surprise and red herrings make for more interest and entertainment. So, too, it is with magic. I truly enjoy the wonder and disbelief – “now, how did he do that?!”
Several years ago, the Jewish Book Festival of Greater Naples brought world-famous magician Joshua Jay to speak about his book, “How Magicians Think and Why Magic Matters.” Jay appeared via Zoom and, even in that medium, was able to fascinate and cast his spell of delightful magic and philosophy.
Jay is a brilliant magician and writer, among his many talents. He writes, “Magic occurs not in the magician’s hands but in the minds of the audience.” He quotes several magicians – this one from Dai Vernon, “In the performances of good magic, the mind is led on, step by step to ingeniously defeat its own logic. The magician doesn’t fool you; you fool yourself.” And Jean-Jacques Sanvert, “Magic is the art of making the impossible logical.”
Jay has been performing for over 30 years. One of his shows, 6 Impossible Things, was performed on Broadway nightly for a year and a half. He spent three years on that show and allowed only 20 guests per night. Jay also fooled Penn and Teller on their television show, Fool Us, which has been a hit show lasting more than 8 seasons. He went on that show to do an original piece, called “Out of Sight,” that he created to perform for people who are blind. Jay wore a blindfold to perform sightless as well. He won the trophy and did fool Penn and Teller.
If you’d like to meet Joshua Jay, be entertained by his enormous talent, perhaps learn a bit more about him, how he thinks and how he performs, please register at www.jewishnaples.org to attend the Magic Show with world famous Joshua Jay on Nov. 1. The audience size is limited to about 200 people. I know you won’t want to miss this show. You will be delighted. Magic transports you and fills you with wonder and astonishment.
Thank you to the generous patrons who have already stepped up to support this exciting event.
(as of 7/26): Stacey and Frank Baum Anne Schuchman and Stephen Light
If you’d like to further support and make magic happen, contact Reneé at rbialek@jewishnaples.org.
