by Mandrake » Feb 17th, '14, 01:30
My son managed to get seated dining tickets for the House of Magic on Saturday and I'm still recovering from a totally gobsmacking evening!
We arrived at 7pm, wandered through the Haunted Garden and were greeted by a tall chap holding a large serving dish with lid - the lid was opened and the disembodied head inside welcomed us to the House of Magic.
Once inside we were free to explore, there’s a large red room cabaret area downstairs with plenty of funfair automata to feed with 20p and 50p coins, the Whispering Chair quietly reveals all about you at at a discretely low volume via headphones, table hopping magicians were in attendance and each one gave a great show. Upstairs is a really grand drawing room, the walls are lined with posters, books, more automata, memorabilia and rather comfy chairs and sofas. There’s a tour of the Haunted Cellar which is in groups of 10 only so you need to get in early for that, the tour is an extremely enjoyable tongue in cheek horror event lead by a liveried footman, plenty of jokes, mild scares as ‘things’ fly all around you.
Food is served from 8pm and at 10pm the cabaret starts, first on was a guy singing some great and very clever comedy songs – a sort of Jake Thackeray style but very individual. Simon then did the next hour which was utterly fantastic, we were right at the front and had a very close view of what went on but couldn’t spot how any of the effects were done. I won’t list the effects he did but they covered a very wide range of styles and involved three assistants. I reckon my jaw was on the floor for most of that hour!
Simon himself went around the house meeting and greeting everyone, ever ready to spend time and chat with as many people as possible.
All in all it’s great experience, if you get chance to go there then you’ll certainly have a memorable time. Magic pure and simple, lots of it and served up by skilled professionals – it doesn’t get any better than that!