Blacpoo Magic Convention 2022 Schedule Day 1: 10:00 am - Registration and Check-in 11:00 am - Opening Ceremony and Welcome Address 12:00 pm - Panel Discussion: The History of Black Magic 1:00 pm - Lunch Break 2:00 pm - Workshop: Mastering Card Tricks 4:00 pm - Break 5:00 pm - Magic Show: The Astonishing Illusions of David Blackwood Day 2: 10:00 am - Workshop: Introduction to Close-up Magic 12:00 pm - Lunch Break 1:00 pm - Panel Discussion: Black Magicians in the Modern Era 2:00 pm - Workshop: Mind Reading Techniques 4:00 pm - Break 5:00 pm - Magic Show: The Spectacular Feats of Marvellous Magica Day 3: 10:00 am - Workshop: Stage Presence for Magicians 12:00 pm - Lunch Break 1:00 pm - Panel Discussion: Diversity and Representation in Magic 2:00 pm - Workshop: Escaping from Impossible Situations 4:00 pm - Break 5:00 pm - Magic Show: The Enchanting Artistry of Mystica Day 4: 10:00 am - Workshop: The Secrets of Sleight of Hand 12:00 pm - Lunch Break 1:00 pm - Panel Discussion: Breaking Barriers in Magic 2:00 pm - Workshop: Levitation Techniques 4:00 pm - Break 5:00 pm - Magic Show: The Unbelievable Illusions of Master Blackstone Day 5: 10:00 am - Workshop: Creating your Own Magic Tricks 12:00 pm - Lunch Break 1:00 pm - Panel Discussion: The Future of Magic 2:00 pm - Workshop: Stage and Set Design for Magic Performances 4:00 pm - Break 5:00 pm - Grand Illusion Show: The Mesmerizing Magic of Blackheart Note: The Blacpoo Magic Convention 2022 schedule is subject to change. Please stay updated with any announcements or modifications..
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The Magic Orange Tree
Cric? Crac! This week I told Diane Wolkstein’s story, “The Magic Orange Tree,” in our Page Presents class. It’s the story of a little girl whose stepmother abuses her. The girl often goes hungry, so one day, when her stepmother is out, she cannot resist eating three oranges that are sitting on the table. Oh, how she savors them! But when the stepmother returns and sees that the oranges are missing, she cries, “Whoever has eaten my oranges had better start saying her prayers now, because she will not be able to later!”
Badly frightened, the little girl runs to the place where her mother is buried and weeps until she is worn out. When she gets up with the sun, something falls from her skirt onto the grave. It is an orange pip! As soon as the tiny seed hits the ground, it begins to grow. Delighted, the child begins to sing:
Orange tree,
Grow and grow and grow,
Orange tree,
Grow and grow and grow!
Stepmother is not real mother,
Orange tree.
As the tree grows taller and taller, her song changes to “Branch and branch and branch,” “Flower and flower and flower,” and “Ripen and ripen and ripen.” When the plump oranges appear, she is so excited that she dances around the tree singing “Grow and grow and grow,” and the tree responds by growing up into the clouds! But the resourceful child just changes her song to “Lower and lower and lower,” and the tree obligingly returns to a normal size.
When her stepmother sees the oranges, she grabs the girl and insists that she show her the tree. Then she leaps into the tree and begins picking all the oranges, but the girl sings “Grow and grow and grow,” sending the tree and her stepmother up into the clouds. Then she cries, “Break, orange tree! And the tree (and the stepmother) break into little pieces. The little girl searches among the pieces until she finds an orange pip, and soon a new magic orange tree begins to grow and grow and grow.
I sing the song with a syncopated calypso feel, so Matt taught the kids a clave rhythm:
They practiced clapping the rhythm, and then they learned how to add shakers to the basic rhythm. Then we taught them the “grow and grow and grow” part of the song, and they all chimed in during the story.
After the story, everyone made a magical orange tree. I overheard one little girl lamenting to her mother that her tree did not have a handle. Her mother told her it was because their paper bag came without a handle. I told her, “I can make a handle for you,” and I got a hole punch and some ribbon and voila! her tree had a handle! She was so happy with the handle on her tree that she kept walking around holding it up and peeking out through the handle, which made me realize that the trees were actually bodi-puppets. Silly me, for not seeing her as she really was: a Magic Orange Tree!
"An unusual and arresting book . . . [Wolkstein's] prefatory notes are so eloquent and so filled with flashes of light thrown upon the customs, beliefs, and practices of the Haitian people that nothing else seems to be wanted."
—Katherine M. Briggs, author of The Anatomy of Puck and A Dictionary of British Folktales in the English Language
“Wolkstein is a handsome example of a Translator: a person who can bridge cultures in such a way as to bring understanding, wit, humor, and moral meaning along with the words.”
—Barre Toelken, Journal of Latin American Literature & Arts
“It is a joy to have this book, not only to read it, but to listen to it. The Magic Orange Tree is a gift.”
—P.L. Travers, author of Mary Poppins
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Reviews for "The Future of Magic: Insights from Expert Panelists at the Blackpoo Magic Convention 2022"
1. John - 2 stars - I was really looking forward to attending the Blackpoo Magic Convention 2022, but I was highly disappointed with the schedule. Firstly, the lineup of performers was underwhelming, with mostly unknown magicians. I was expecting some big names in the industry. Secondly, the timing of the workshops and seminars was all over the place. It was impossible to attend everything I wanted without overlapping schedules. Overall, the schedule lacked organization and failed to deliver an exciting and well-planned event.
2. Sarah - 3 stars - While I appreciate the effort put into organizing the Blackpoo Magic Convention 2022, I couldn't help but feel let down by the schedule. The workshops and seminars offered were too basic and didn't cater to more advanced magicians. I was hoping for in-depth sessions and discussions on new techniques and tricks, but it felt like everything was geared towards beginners. Additionally, the timing of the events was inconvenient, with some workshops scheduled too early in the morning while others late at night. It would have been better if the schedule was more balanced and focused on the needs of all attendees.
3. Michael - 1 star - I had high expectations for the Blackpoo Magic Convention 2022, but the schedule was a total disaster. Firstly, there was a severe lack of variety in the performances. Most of the magicians seemed to have similar styles and tricks, and it quickly became repetitive and unexciting. Secondly, the workshops and seminars were poorly organized, with confusing descriptions and unclear objectives. It was hard to determine which ones would be beneficial and worth attending. Overall, the schedule lacked creativity and innovation, making the entire convention a huge letdown.
4. Amanda - 2 stars - As a long-time fan of magic, I was excited to attend the Blackpoo Magic Convention 2022, but the schedule left much to be desired. First of all, the timing of the events was inconvenient, with long breaks in between and limited opportunities to interact with fellow magic enthusiasts. Moreover, the schedule was overloaded with sponsor showcases and sales pitches, taking away from the magic itself. I was hoping for more performances and hands-on workshops instead. Overall, the schedule lacked balance and failed to create an engaging and immersive experience for attendees.