The magic and the mystery

HE’S BEEN able to pick a complex lock in seconds since he was a teen. but Paul Cosentino has never thought about pulling off the theft of the century. His dream has always been to reap in the cash as a magician and he’s certainly succeeded in that, with the 33-year-old Australian now recognised the world over as one of the most talented magicians, illusionists and escape artists in the business.
And now he’s bringing his “Twisted Reality” show, a mind-bending blend of magic, dance and audience participation, to the City of Angels, rolling into town on Saturday for two shows at the Bangkok Convention Centre.
We had a chat with the maestro about the illusive art and his magic show.

HOW DID YOU BECOME A MAGICIAN?
I discovered magic as a 12 year old. I came across an old magic book in a library, which featured some of the great magicians of the past including the likes of Harry Houdini. That book captivated me, ignited my passion for magic and started me on my journey to be the best illusionist in the world.

YOU’VE SAID THAT MAGIC HELPED YOU OVERCOME DIFFICULTIES AS YOU GREW UP. CAN YOU EXPLAIN?
As a young boy I had difficulties with reading. My mother, who is a school principal, used to take me to libraries to try and get me engaged in books and learning. One day by chance, I came upon the “Encyclopedia of Magic” on the library shelf. It was a classic old magic book with beautiful artwork. The book featured a shot of Harry Houdini, bound and shackled. The headline stated “nothing on Earth can hold him prisoner” – I was instantly fascinated with the image and the headline. I had to find out who this man was and why nothing on Earth could hold him. My mother and I would sit down each night and read chapters from the book. Not only was it successful in teaching me how to read but it also kindled my life-long passion for magic.

BESIDES BOOKS, HOW DO YOU LEARN TO DO MAGIC TRICKS?
I would also spend hours watching people like David Copperfield perform on old VHS tapes. I would play and rewind and play to get an understanding not only of their brilliant magic skills, but more importantly how they presented the illusions to the audience.

WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO BE A MAGICIAN?
Anyone can do a trick, but very few can create magic. My advice to any young illusionist is always aim to be the best you can be, whether performing for friends and family in your backyard or up on stage in front of thousands. You must have originality, perseverance, dedication and work very hard for whatever it is you want to achieve.

IS THERE A CLASSIC TRICK THAT NEVER GETS TOO OLD FOR YOU?
I’m passionate about the classic tricks and always endeavour to treat them with the utmost respect. These performance art pieces are loved around the world and have truly stood the test of time. In my show you will see my take on “sawing a woman in half”. This piece always gets a wonderful reaction at my shows and I can’t wait to perform it for the audiences in Bangkok.

HOW DO YOU DESCRIBE YOURSELF – MAGICIAN, ESCAPE ARTIST OR ILLUSIONIST?
All of the above! I am one of the very few performers to showcase death-defying escapes, stage illusions and street magic not only in my TV shows but also live on stage. People who come along to see “Twisted Reality” tomorrow will be able to watch me demonstrate all these skills right in front of their eyes!

YOU’RE ALSO A DANCER. HOW DOES THIS HELP IN YOUR MAGIC?
The dancing is just another |layer of entertainment that peo-|ple will experience. I spend a lot |of time choreographing the specific routines and it really amplifies |the magic experience. I’m very focused on pushing the boundaries of what’s possible and always try |to deliver shows that are truly unique. The addition of dance |certainly helps achieve that.

WHERE DO YOU DRAW INSPIRATION WHEN CREATING A SHOW?
When I’m creating a new show, I try to take my mind back to a child-like state. When we are young, we are captivated by magic and illusions and anything’s possible. As we get older we get more cynical, the magic becomes “tricks” and we are more focused on trying to find out how it happened rather than being swept up and taken away by the experience. New ideas come from sitting and talking to my young nieces and nephews. I ask them “what magic powers would you like to possess” and their responses are enlightening. During a recent conversation my nephew told me how he would like to be able to walk through walls. I took that idea and created a brand new illusion called the “Time Machine”. During this piece both my assistant and I literally walk through a wall and disappear, live on stage!

WHAT TRICKS HAVE YOU ALWAYS WANTED TO DO BUT HAVE NOT YET ACHIEVED?
Flying! I've always wanted to be Superman!

WHAT CAN WE EXPECT TO SEE IN “TWISTED REALITY”
In this production you can expect to see death-defying escapes, mind-goggling stage illusions and world-class street magic as well as cutting-edge dance, humour and audience participation! It’s two hours of action-packed entertainment.

PLEASE SAY SOMETHING TO THE THAI FANS WAITING TO SEE YOUR SHOW.
I’ve been to Thailand a few times now and I absolutely love the country. The Thai people are wonderful and have always made me feel so welcome. I’m really proud of my “Twisted Reality” magic show and I look forward to sharing it with you all tomorrow.