A Weekend Of Magic Comes to The Players' Ring

The audience will create Andrew Pinard's end-of-the year magic show. That is why Pinard's performance of "Discovering Magic" will not be anything like last year's, or for that matter, last week's. His audience defines each of his unique performances of magic.

"It will be new audiences and all new experiences," said Pinard, who will return to the Players' Ring in Portsmouth Dec. 27 through 29 with his special brand of magical entertainment. "It's not like there's a plot. It's all about us getting together and exploring the weird and wonderful world that is our human mind."

Each year Pinard has different acts, and new stories, in addition to old familiar favorites. His show involves himself, some rubber bands, 52 cards, common household objects and possibly some rope. Oh, and a good deal of audience interaction.

"I take advantage of the intimate space at the Players' Ring. It's totally interactive," he said. "Every show is different because each audience brings its own remarkable alchemy of perspective, including all manners of strangeness, of weirdness, experiences, interests, and sense of fun."

Andrew Pinard and his act have become a beloved tradition at the Players' Ring each year between Christmas and New Year's, according to Barbara Newton, co-founder of the Ring.

"Children of all ages will be treated to an outstanding performance," Newton promised.

Besides exploring magic, science, perception, and deception through slights of hand, nefarious con games, and cognitive dissonance, award-winning Andrew Pinard tells stories about the performers who have influenced his work and various magicians who have played a role in the history of magic.

"It's important be aware of the performers who came before you," he said, rattling off names most of us have never heard of - Don Alan, who hosted one of the first TV shows on magic; Al Baker, dean of The Society of American Magicians; and Alexander - The Man Who Knows, "a conman, a shyster and some say a murderer, who was also the greatest mind-reader ever."

Pinard's history in magic began with a trick he did in second grade at Derry Village School in Derry. His feat involved reading the mind number of someone thinking of a number determined by a second grade assembly. He got the trick from a book, he said, noting that "the secrets of magic are for everyone to read and learn."

By fifth grade Pinard had turned to music and theater, and only returned to magic in 1991 after leaving college where he had pursued a degree in music and theater.

After 29 years of entertaining with magic, Pinard says he doesn't do tricks, but "curates experiences."

The goal of magic, according to Pinard, is less to fool than to "trigger delight and astonishment." And to achieve that he steers away from top hats, doves and the other clichés normally associated with magicians.

"Fooling people is a magician's base competency," he said, "But actually I'm not the one fooling them. They are fooling themselves. I am simply introducing an idea and letting their imagination run away."

As Newton says, Pinard's acts will confound even after he explains them.

"Even if he tells you how he does a particular illusion, you will be hard-pressed to spot it," she said.

"Andrew Pinard is the consummate entertainer," added Joel Plagenz, a board member who introduced the show last year. "No matter how many times I see his show, I can't figure out a single trick."

Pinard can talk at length about the intellectual side of magic - how "it is about image and expectation" and how "you have to engage both during the performance." But in the end, he believes "magic is really about fun, about creating a remarkable story which the audiences are characters and help define the story." In this way, he said, "magic is unlike any other performing art."

He performs magic monthly at the Hatbox Theatre, his venue in Concord, and tours, performing at public and private events. His other magic performances include a vaudeville-style show for family audiences and one where he plays the part of a 19th century magician.

As Pinard gets set to perform "strange and unusual experiences," he invites people to join him for one of the five performances. "Join me," he invited, "for a guided tour of the impossible and absurd."

"Discovering Magic" will be at the Players' Ring Theatre at 105 Marcy St. in Portsmouth from Friday to Sunday, Dec. 27 to 29, with shows Friday and Saturday at 3 and 8 pm and Sunday at 3 pm. Tickets are $20 with discounts for students, seniors, and Players' Ring members. Reservations can be made at playersring.org or 603-436-8123.

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