Let's work some magic!

When it comes to illusionists extraordinaire, Peter Marvey ranks right up there with David Copperfield. In 2009, two of Marvey’s role models, Siegfried & Roy, paid him the ultimate compliment when they included his illusion “Fire Apparition” in their farewell show in Las Vegas.
For two nights next week, the handsome Swiss gent will be bringing plenty of Vegas-style razzmatazz to the Thailand Cultural Centre during Bangkok’s 14th International Festival of Dance and Music.
Marvey has won many prizes over the course of his career, among them the Golden Magic Wand, which was presented to him by Prince Albert of Monaco for the best magic show at the 1996 Grand Prix of Monaco when he was still only 24.
At the end of 2009, he won the Merlin Award for the second time in his career. This prize is presented by the International Magicians Society. With more than 37,000 members, it’s the largest organisation of its kind in the world.
Marvey is a maestro of both sleight-of-hand and over-the-top illusions, like when his female assistant chainsaws him in half. Then his legs appear to pedal a unicycle around the stage, before he is reunited with his lower half.
Not only does the illusionist thrill audiences with his card tricks – Marvey turns a silk hanky into a house of cards for one show-stopper – but he has created some large-scale illusions that are almost unparalleled.
In one memorable performance at the CSI Zurich international horse show, he conjured up a “phantom wedding coach” pulled by seven white horses and escorted by a retinue of fairies, all attired in white with enormous wings.
The feat is even more impressive when you consider that it was witnessed by 40,000 people situated at all vantage points of an arena. How did he do it?
That’s the question Bangkok audiences will be asking when the illusionist performs here, along with a retinue of sexy female assistants. 
Born in 1971, the Zurich native had an early interest in the stage and flying, eventually combining them in his choice of professions and passions. Indeed, some of his favourite tricks reveal him as a fully grown Peter Pan, when he practises “Dream Flying”.
This high-flier invented an elaborate system that allows him to turn in many different directions and to become the first magician to change costumes in mid-flight.
Besides the favourable comparisons to Copperfield, Marvey is also mentioned in the same breath as Siegfried & Roy. The legendary duo, called the “magicians of the century”, took notice of Marvey as his star rose.
Siegfried himself has seen several of his shows and says that Peter “Marvelous” Marvey is the best and most creative large-scale illusionist of the present. In one glowing review, the blond, blue-eyed and boyishly handsome Swiss was dubbed the “star magician of the next generation”. Part of his acclaim stems from the fact that Marvey only uses original illusions created by himself.
These tricks have become world famous, like “Fire Lances” and the aforementioned “Ultimate Cut” – widely regarded as the world’s best sawing illusion – or “Magic Hands”, his award-winning manipulation trick.
After performing them at venues as varied as Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas, the Saitama Super Arena in Tokyo, and in 30 other countries, Peter Marvey is coming to Bangkok for two fantastic shows never witnessed before in Thailand.

The festival is sponsored by Bangkok Bank, B Grimm, Dusit Thani Bangkok, The Nation Group, Nivea, SCG, Singha, Thai Airways International, Tourism Authority of Thailand and Toyota Motor Thailand.

  DON’T BLINK
 Peter Marvey performs at 7.30pm on October 9 and 10 at the Thailand Cultural Centre.
 Tickets are available at ThaiTicketMajor. Call (02) 262 3191.
 For more information go to www.BangkokFestivals.com.