This is Rosanna and Sam. They are magicians and they are in love.
He was teaching magic to kids with cerebral palsy as part of therapy. She was a clown doctor entertaining sick kids in hospitals. After years of hearing about each other through the magic circles of Oz, they met for lunch which turned into an 11 hour date and 8 weeks later, she had moved from Sydney to Melbourne to be with him.
How did you get into magic?
Sam: I saw a magician at Moomba when I was 13 and decided then and there that is what I wanted to do. I did a show at my sister’s school and one of the dads in the audience was a compere at New Faces talent show, and got me on. I ended up winning the Vic comp, and came second nationally. After seeing me on the show, the President of the Australian Society of Magicians called me and asked me to join. I’ve never worked another job..
Rosanna: I joined theatre sports and started going out with one of the guys who was a magician. I got crazy curious about his tricks so taught myself, then practiced at dinner parties and was given lots of encouragement. I got three jobs at my first gig and have been a full time magician for the last 21 years.
Are there secret magician societies?
S: Yes there are clubs and societies in every capital city. But it’s a small community in Australia, so when there are gigs and magic festivals on, you bump into each other a lot.
R: Women stand out a lot in magic society. We have to work really hard to prove ourselves because traditionally it is more of a male dominated career, and women are expected to be just the assistants.
Kewlest show you’ve performed?
S: I’ve worked many times at the Magic Castle in Hollywood (which is the world hub for magicians in LA) but I did also win the title of World Champion of Comedy Magic by FISM (aka the Olympics of magic that happens every four years). It was a fantastic accolade that launched me on the world stage. The cup I won was stolen 30 years ago from my flat, but randomly it found its way back to me 2 months ago – some guy found it at the Chapel Street Street Bizarre, bought it for $29 then saw our Illusionaire posters around the city and my name on it. He then called me up and wanted to remain anonymous. I’m so grateful to have it back especially after 30yrs … If only it could talk.
R: I was staying in uptown NY city in a 5 bedroom apartment, and part of my rental agreement was to perform a show for the Singaporean ambassador and his entourage on New Years Eve. They were the most multi-cultural cross section of people I have ever met in my life and they absolutely loved the show. I was drinking with them afterwards until the wee hours hearing some amazing stories. It was truly an awesome night
What are some of your favourite tricks?
S: Mine are Smoke out of heel, Fire out of shoe, The Art of Invisibility, Mind Reading, Changing Shape and Color, Transposition.
R: Anything that creates “Wonder”! That’s our job as magicians. We don’t do this in our show, but my favourite trick is when I get a kid in a show to piece together small building blocks to make a picture of a rabbit. Once they completed the image, the blocks all disappear and a real rabbit appears
S: I can’t believe you told that story. Bunnies are so cliché.
Sam and Rosanna do their Illusionaire Show at the Mission to Seafarers Dome, on Flinders St in the Docklands every Sat and Sunday @ 230 + 730pm. www.illusionairemagic.com
