2017 City Reliquary
Last month I performed The Suitcase of Wonders (featuring Smallini, The World’s Tiniest Magician), at City Reliquary, in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.
This odd and delightful community museum/performance venue houses permanent and rotating collections of eclectic NYC historical artifacts (like a lightbulb from the Statue of Liberty), and also hosts an abundance of fun block parties, backyard concerts and film screenings. First started as a window display at the ground floor apartment of its founder, Dave Herman, the City Reliquary later moved to its current location in a former storefront on busy Metropolitan Ave.
I performed as part of an evening bill of live music and poetry readings, hosted by uptown musician and bon vivant Jane Lecroy. While the other performers entertained in the whimsically decorated backyard stage area, I set up my miniature theater in one of the indoor museum rooms. This arrangement worked out nicely, as people could easily move from one area to another and enjoy all the shows.
This performance was the first live presentation of the Suitcase of Wonders in a long time (due to pandemic conditions), so I decided to stick with some standards instead of debuting new material. However, this show did provide an opportunity to finally break out my new table (built by magician Peter Wood), and try out a new hat that belonged to my late step-father, and was recently given to me by my loving mother.
I did add a new addition to one of my standards (A Hopping Production) - that being smoke! I’ve always wanted to add a puff of smoke during the moment when the large (for Smallini, that is) rabbit magically appears, so I finally got to try a new tiny smoke device. It worked out quite reliably and added a mystical touch of smokey atmosphere to the illusion at the appropriate moment.
A young and upcoming magician named Holden Summers attended, and he helped me greatly by corralling audience members to watch the show.
Another fellow named Collin, a professional photographer from New Haven, took some excellent photos - an unexpected benefit! His photos are featured in this diary entry.'s slideshow.
It really felt amazing to perform for a live audience after such a long hiatus. I hope to appear again at City Reliquary when pandemic conditions allow - it is a hidden NYC jewel, and if you ever find yourself in Williamsburg on a Thursday - Saturday evening, you should definitely check it out.
I did add a new addition to one of my standards (A Hopping Production) - that being smoke! I’ve always wanted to add a puff of smoke during the moment when the large (for Smallini, that is) rabbit magically appears, so I finally got to try a new tiny smoke device. It worked out quite reliably and added a mystical touch of smokey atmosphere to the illusion at the appropriate moment.
A young and upcoming magician named Holden Summers attended, and he helped me greatly by corralling audience members to watch the show.
Another fellow named Collin, a professional photographer from New Haven, took some excellent photos - an unexpected benefit! His photos are featured in this diary entry.'s slideshow.
It really felt amazing to perform for a live audience after such a long hiatus. I hope to appear again at City Reliquary when pandemic conditions allow - it is a hidden NYC jewel, and if you ever find yourself in Williamsburg on a Thursday - Saturday evening, you should definitely check it out.