Ronald's magic touch 

By Laila Nasry

Half way through the door after our brief introductions, he stops me in my tracks. Fishing out a green plume, he proclaims "I'm going to perform a trick." I nearly pass out. Please God, not a toad, I think. 

Covering the top half of the plume, he says "blow" and I do as I'm told. "One two, one two." Hey presto! he uncovers a red plumed rose and presents it to me with a flourish. Ah, chivalry, it still ain't dead. 

Taking a seat, now completely at ease (toad thoughts well out of my mind), I boldly venture to ask him, "Can you not get gold coins from my ears?", visions of my empty purse flashing in my mind. 

Without a word he clenches his fist. After a few chants and a bit of movement there sitting snugly in his palm is an original gold coin. My eyes are ready to pop out. 

Ronald de Alwis, clad in a vibrant purple shirt with silver pin stripes, black pants and a colourful tie, looked every inch the magician sans the top hat. Second runner-up in the Magic Competition (Juniors) in 1952, the winner of the Magician of the Year in 1962, Magic Open Contest in 1968 and currently the President of the Magic Circle, life for him has been one big 'abracadabra'. 

Ronald became the youngest member of the Magic Circle at the age of 17. From the tender age of five he watched his famous magician father, Linden de Alwis go about his tricks. "We had a separate room in our house where my father stored all his things. There used to be a large mirror in it and I would go in there and handle his tricks. The mirror was my audience."

Soon he became his father's able assistant travelling with him during World War II to all parts of the country performing at war charities. "The Government Agents would organise the shows and my father and I, pile into his Austin or take the train to various destinations, at times accompanied by my father's back up musicians Sheldon Perera on the violin and Clement Cumaravel on the piano accordion." 

Ronald's first magic break came at 13 when he was invited by the Brother Director of his alma mater St. Mary's College, Chilaw to perform at a school charity show. "My first trick was to tear up a piece of paper into shreds and restore it before everyone's eyes."

As an arts graduate at the University of Ceylon he performed tricks on his subordinates. "I used to 'haunt' my friends in the Ramanathan Hall," he says with a chuckle. 

Whilst a teacher at the Ingaradauva Maha Vidyalaya, he received a telegram informing him of an interview to join the Army, an ambition he had entertained though he was neither a scout nor a cadet. "I received it at 8 at night and my interview was at 8 the following morning." Hitching a ride in a fibre lorry he got there on time but in a terrible state having been drenched in the rain. 

Coat off and sleeves rolled up he presented himself before the board and charmed his way to selection with a few tricks. "I borrowed two rupees from Captain Sriyananda who was a panellist and made it disappear. Then I told them that if they chose me or not it didn't matter because I had just found my bus fare home."

In the Army too, he was up to his tricks and was the only officer offered three days leave to go home to get his goods for a magic show. 

Now a full time magician, Ronald's diary is brimming with appointments, to perform at various functions from kids' birthday parties to family get-togethers. So much so that he doesn't have much time to devote to practice alone. "But always before a performance I play my music and get into the rhythm of things." 

Shows are all about the audience, he says. "If it's a kids' show I must come down to their level. Make them feel important. For the adults it's more about patter, humour, etc." 

The reward for him is enthusiasm in audience participation. "When around 20-25 people come rushing up as volunteers for the tricks" his day is made. However, such enthusiasm hasn't always proved to be heartening. 

Recounting a show he put up at Timex Garments, Maharagama, he says, "I got a volunteer from the audience for my guillotine chop trick." At the end of the trick after putting her neck on the line, the volunteer had been in tears and immediately swooned, he remembers. 

"I had some water from a previous trick and quickly sprinkled it with an 'abracadabra' and she came round. Luckily the audience thought it was all part of the trick but I nearly had a heart attack."

Magicana Entertainment, established by Ronald also teaches newcomers the art of magic. "Except for my grand-daughter none of my children were interested in magic. So I thought I'll teach. Open for those 12 years and above, he hopes to expand it to include executives and those in the field of marketing. Performing magic tricks can help break the monotony in the boardroom and build up a rapport with one's subordinates," he says. 

"All you need to have is personality, rhythm, an eye for entertainment, a few acting skills, sleight of hand and the ability to gauge the audience." 

"Magic is more than just performing tricks. It makes you feel young at heart," says this 66-year-old who for a good part of his life has been the centre of attraction. "Everyone calls you, knows you. I have now stopped taking out advertisements in the newspapers or the yellow pages." The immense thrill, he says is "the satisfaction you get when the audience is all fascination and awe. It teaches you punctuality and to gauge people's moods and cater to it accordingly."

As President of the 80-year-old Magic Circle, Ronald hopes to share the magic with fellow 'tricksters'. Having started as the Association of Ceylon Magicians with a small group of just seven, the Circle has widened to 130 members, including 35 professionals. The original bandwagon headed by Gate Mudliyar A.C.G.S. Amerasekera and later R. Bodinagoda of Lake House fame included architects, coroners, judges, etc. The organisation affiliated to the International Brotherhood of Magicians organised several festivals of magic to keep this profession and art alive. 

The problems faced by magicians do not disappear like magic. "We too can produce David Copperfields," says Ronald, "but we lack funding and sponsors." He feels their showmanship suffers as they have problems transporting their equipment, special lights etc. which also cost a lot. "The banks are not comfortable about giving loans. Maybe they are scared we will disappear with the money."

Also the attitude of the public in no way contributes to their upliftment. "Most people are willing to pay exorbitant ticket prices and go for shows when international magicians come down but are not willing to spend when it comes to a local magician.' 

Having been donated land at Templer's Road, Attidiya, the Magic Circle is looking to set up their headquarters there. Currently in the process of collecting funds for their building, they hope such an establishment will enable them to promote magic in Sri Lanka. "We are looking to train new magicians in the field and create a healthy relationship between those already in the profession." 

Next on the Magic Circle agenda is a trip to the north. "We are still in the process of organising it. But we want to go to Jaffna and the Wanni and perform to our soldiers to give them a boost."

Hoping for a little magic