The Modern Mystic League
DECEMBER 2025
Blackburn & District Society of Magicians
The whirligig of time has brought Christmas round once more, and with it the traditional MML magic Christmas party, with guests from the Woodlands church community.
Marmalade the Monkey kicked things off by attempting to blow up a festive balloon. Following some comedy business involving yours truly, he finally managed to inflate the balloon . . . and float up towards the ceiling.
Our featured magician this year was our very own Honorary Member Brian Berry, a day ahead of his birthday. Always the consummate professional, Brian was warming up audience members with close-up magic before the show began, then launched into a masterclass on the entertainment of youngsters.
Many of the classics were in evidence, but all with a special twist; commencing with a ring on/off rope routine using a young helper. A ladybird version on the ‘What’s Next?’ theme involved the counting of the ladybird’s spots, which continued to multiply with the charming conclusion of the insect’s sparkly party dress, achieved by means of ingenious flaps rather than magnets. George Blake’s Silver Sceptre showed its timeless value with lots of funny business, while a scary spider turned up in a six-card-repeat sequence using pumpkin images. The Pom-Pom Sticks principle was used in a skeleton routine in which the skull vanished on the way to the dentist. Block Through Head (‘Pentablock’) was used on another young victim, with her friend ready to catch the block at the other end of the tube; and the finale was the Tale of the Three Little Pigs, complete with boiled wolf.
Never flagging, Brian engaged his young (and adult) audience for forty minutes, eliciting comments about the thorough professionalism of his performance. It was wonderful to see him in full flow again.
Marmalade the Monkey kicked things off by attempting to blow up a festive balloon. Following some comedy business involving yours truly, he finally managed to inflate the balloon . . . and float up towards the ceiling.
Our featured magician this year was our very own Honorary Member Brian Berry, a day ahead of his birthday. Always the consummate professional, Brian was warming up audience members with close-up magic before the show began, then launched into a masterclass on the entertainment of youngsters.
Many of the classics were in evidence, but all with a special twist; commencing with a ring on/off rope routine using a young helper. A ladybird version on the ‘What’s Next?’ theme involved the counting of the ladybird’s spots, which continued to multiply with the charming conclusion of the insect’s sparkly party dress, achieved by means of ingenious flaps rather than magnets. George Blake’s Silver Sceptre showed its timeless value with lots of funny business, while a scary spider turned up in a six-card-repeat sequence using pumpkin images. The Pom-Pom Sticks principle was used in a skeleton routine in which the skull vanished on the way to the dentist. Block Through Head (‘Pentablock’) was used on another young victim, with her friend ready to catch the block at the other end of the tube; and the finale was the Tale of the Three Little Pigs, complete with boiled wolf.
Never flagging, Brian engaged his young (and adult) audience for forty minutes, eliciting comments about the thorough professionalism of his performance. It was wonderful to see him in full flow again.
MAGIC @ CHRISTMAS
Children's Show
Woodlands Church Hall
Children's Show
Woodlands Church Hall
After a refreshment and raffle break we had an innovative second half, with Francesca organising a series of party games which involved, among other things, lots of running around and walking with a large onion gripped between the knees.
Finally, the ‘A’ Team of Allan, Craig and company, had come up with a splendidly realised ‘Doctor Who’ illusion in which a model of Santa was assembled, Bob the Builder style, inside a most authentic-looking Tardis – and then came to life amid the well-known theme music and flashing lights; thanks to tech man John. It was a Christmas cracker.
All that was needed to complete a perfect afternoon was the distribution of presents from the man in red and the obligatory photographs. Our thanks to old friend of the League, Rawden Kerr, for bringing FC along again.
The Woods family was thanked for organising the refreshments. It was a joy to see them all again, and to recall the days when Joan and Roger’s children Helen and Robert (now there with children of their own) were at the centre of the fun.
And so ended another memorable event to go into the annals of the MML.
Brian Lead
Finally, the ‘A’ Team of Allan, Craig and company, had come up with a splendidly realised ‘Doctor Who’ illusion in which a model of Santa was assembled, Bob the Builder style, inside a most authentic-looking Tardis – and then came to life amid the well-known theme music and flashing lights; thanks to tech man John. It was a Christmas cracker.
All that was needed to complete a perfect afternoon was the distribution of presents from the man in red and the obligatory photographs. Our thanks to old friend of the League, Rawden Kerr, for bringing FC along again.
The Woods family was thanked for organising the refreshments. It was a joy to see them all again, and to recall the days when Joan and Roger’s children Helen and Robert (now there with children of their own) were at the centre of the fun.
And so ended another memorable event to go into the annals of the MML.
Brian Lead
Don't forget to check out the video HERE