Memories of a ‘spellbound’ childhood in Samar

In my younger days in Borongan, Eastern Samar, I and my childhood friend Rogel would always look forward to fiestas or mga patron, as we would call it in Waray. Rogel would come rushing to my house and would gleefully announce that a fiesta was happening in a nearby town and that the two of us would attend the veladas. Rogel, then, would be my "costume designer" and "wardrobe assistant". Days before the fiesta, we would practice our dance number in the presence of banana and guava trees that abound in our backyard. But apart from the veladas which we would attend, I would also join singing contests. Most of the time I would lose but the "biggest" victory I had was in a singing contest in our town plaza. Rogel said I was declaiming more than I was singing. Rogel suspected that I influenced Aling Corazon, my rich neighbor who was Chairman of the Board of Judges. I sang Impossible Dream believing that the impossible was possible. I still do.

But the biggest fiesta attraction of them all was always the karnabal which was usually "imported" from neighboring provinces. My young mind would wonder at the grotesque, unusual, unique and sometimes out-of-this-world performances from the karnabal. Of course, there were sirkiros, magikeros, the flying trapeze, the gymnasts, the chain saw act where a girl from the circus would get inside a "baul’ and a man with a saw would cut the poor girl into half! That was magic! There were also "exotic" animals like the tired, red-eyed elephants that looked like they were underpaid and unloved, the tigers that were always asleep and the huge python that swallowed chickens in front of frightened kids. Rogel and I would scream so loud, people would think the snakes were violating us.

The karnabals of my childhood have certainly evolved. They have become high-tech. The acts are better, the magic spellbinding, and they now employ pretty faces! Also, now that it’s Christmas season, all kinds of shows happen in the big city.

One such attraction that every boy and girl, mother and father would enjoy seeing is Spellbound: The Greatest Magic Show On Earth. Spellbound is the brainchild of Dick and Lynne Foster. Dick a former actor and dancer was looking for a family show to produce when he thought of "magic" as an act. The first show, which was staged at Harrah’s Lake Tahoe in 1981 ran for five weeks. Two years later, he had the name Spellbound registered to prevent other theatrical groups from using it. Since 1987, after a landmark performance at Knotts Berry Farm, "Spellbound" has performed in all parts of the globe. It is also the most recognized international magic show in the word.

Spellbound brings its world-class act to Manila at the Araneta Coliseum starting Dec. 25. With a total of 25 performers, Spellbound will feature 17 unbelievable illusions, 3 unique specialty acts and 14 dancers. The 90 minute spellbinding performance has an international cast coming from such countries as Canada, South Africa, Russia, Spain, England, Germany and Argentina. It has also won several awards and has been honored by the Academy of Magical Arts and is acclaimed as America’s Best Magic Show.

Among the specialty performers in Spellbound are Majestix, Los Huincas, Human Design, Jackson Rayne, and Laura Rios. Los Huincas are Argentinian cowboys- Tuco and Martin- who use bolos, drums, and comedy in their act. Human Design is composed of Miguel Soler, Slawek Kielbasinski and Krzystof Suskek, and together, they execute super human maneuvers with effortless grace and agility. Majestix is Michael Giles and Stacey Jones. Their performances are unparalleled. Stacey can melt through a metal blade transposing herself from one box to another. Jackson Rayne is called the "Modern Day Houdini" He can walk through walls, escape underwater submersions like the master illusionist Houdini. He gained international attention after he successfully escaped while buried alive ten feet underwater inside a seven foot wooden coffin while shackled by thirteen locks, 10 feet of chains and several iron cuffs. Laura, on the other hand, is endowed with magnetic appearance and a mesmerizing musical ability. She will mark her grand premiere with the show in Manila.

Spellbound is choreographed by Troy Russell. Costume design is by Glynda Conaway, head of Dick Foster Productions wardrobe Department.