By: debbie lynn elias
Forget about Harry Houdini. Forget about Harry Potter. A new magician has taken center stage. A master of escape. A magician with extraordinary mystical powers. A magician who has been to the beyond and back. A magician who has seen the “dark side.” Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Ronny Roman, Lord of the Mystique.
Ronny Roman always knew it was within him. He could always sense he had “the gift” for prestidigitation and particularly the art of mystical escape. So with that talent under his belt, Ronny Roman made quite a name for himself as an up and coming magician. Complete with the requisite beautiful assistant, who also happened to be his childhood sweetheart Charlotte, he was both an opener and headliner on stage and tv. He was known, he was famous in his own little world and he was in love. Everything was as it should be. That is until one fateful night when Ronny walked in on Charlotte and a rival magician, together in Ronny and Charlotte’s bed. Devastated and heartbroken, Ronny disappeared from life and from magic.
Fast forward one year. Convincing himself that he possesses dark mystical powers that shield him from heartbreak and emotion, Ronny has immersed himself body and soul in this fantastical belief, frightening others into thinking that he might be a bit nutsy (especially since the only clothing he wears is his magician’s tuxedo and silk top hat 24/7) and as a result, essentially lapsing into a self-imposed hiatus in the magic world. But now, Ronny Roman, Lord of the Mystique, is ready to resume center stage. Problem is, center stage no longer wants Ronny Roman. Relegated to nothing more than children’s birthday parties, perpetually clad in that tuxedo and top hat of his, Ronny is ready to show the world his new dark mysticism and begs his manager for work. Told he needs a new assistant and a new act before he can get some headline gigs, Ronny puts out feelers searching for a new glamorous assistant. Canvassing the continent with newspaper ads, trips to modeling agencies, even watching dating service videos, he has nary a nibble. Well, there is one nibble; Margot, a slightly kooky but kindhearted neighbor who believes in Ronny with such conviction that she seeks his mystical insight when it comes to the burning questions, “why do bugs eat her vegetables in the garden” and “why do they die?” Nope. Don’t think she’ll quite make the cut.
In the meantime, however, Ronny’s manager has found him a job; the gig of a lifetime. Donned in his magician’s tuxedo and silk top hat, Ronny arrives at his performance destination only to find that it’s a hospice for the dying elderly. Although not the Palladium, Ronny is nevertheless anxious to perform for these poor souls; that is until he finds out his manner of performance is serving afternoon drinks to the patients as a mobile bartender. Oops. But while fulfilling his duty yet vowing never to return again, something strange happens to Ronny. While serving some very strong whiskey to Mr. Peters, a very frail old man whose every breath is feared may be his last, he makes a connection with the old man. It seems that Mr. Peters has some magic of his own. He has friends visible only to himself who also need afternoon beverages. Being the only sociable polite thing to do, Ronny gladly serves them all as a pleased and contended Mr. Peters looks on. But someone else looks on as well, nurse Sarah March. Herself a bit of an outsider, Sarah has a fear of germs thanks to a childhood illness that Ronny “senses” with his powers. Finding herself attracted to Ronny but seeing a very different kind of magic than the dark powers Ronny professes to possess, the two strike up an unlikely friendship, and thanks to the magic of Mr. Peters and Sarah, Ronny struggles to see new magicks that life has to offer.
Unfortunately, Ronny is hell bent on returning to the stage and making his return to television with a ginormous new act, the ultimate in escape – chained in a coffin submersed in water but with a twist. . .should he not escape within 3 minutes, a live electrical wire will be dropped into the water electrocuting him. Also unfortunate for Ronny is his obsession with the beautiful Celestine who has graciously agreed to serve as his magician’s assistant. Blonde and gorgeous like his lost love Charlotte, Ronny is drawn to Celestine. Celestine on the other hand is drawn to promises of riches and fame made by Ronny’s manager, himself desirous of Celestine – and money.
But magic works in mysterious ways and with some slight of hand of its own, mystical forces take hold of the situation forcing Ronny to take a new look at the cards he has been dealt and the magic powers he truly possesses.
Working his own magic with this film, New Zealander Andy Conlan pulls three rabbits out of his hat as he not only stars as Ronny Roman, but serves as writer and director. As Ronny Roman, he reminds me of a more somber Keanu Reeves in “Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventures” mixed with the quintessential kind-hearted puppy-dog warmth of John Cusack’s Lloyd Dobbler. With his slightly too short pants, spats and his silk top hat, Conlan’s Ronny has an undeniable quirky sweetness that tugs at your heart and draws you deeper into understanding Ronny’s World. Particularly notable is Georgie Hill as Sarah March. Already working as a costume designer on the film, after several months Conlan asked her to read a scene for the still uncast role of Sarah and, as they say, the rest is history. Hill is ideal as Sarah. With a wide-eyed naivete that hides a very old kind loving soul, Hill brings a strong tenderness to the character that gives ground and balance to some of Ronny’s unrealistic beliefs. Veteran actor Alexander Anderson best known to American audiences as one of the kings who became a Ringwraith in “Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Rings” gave his final performance as the elderly Henry Peters. Like his character, Anderson was in the final stages of cancer and dying during the filming of THE LAST MAGIC SHOW and passed away shortly after shooting his scenes. Determined to play the role no matter what his own condition, Anderson’s courage, gentility and grace permeated not only the shoot, but the character of Mr. Peters.
Written and directed by Conlan, THE LAST MAGIC SHOW is unbelievably sweet and casts its own undeniable spell on one while watching. Written in 2003, it took Conlan until 2005 to gather enough funds to begin principal shooting with ultimate completion in 2007. Very much along the same quirky humorous vein of “Eagle Vs Shark”, which is out now in limited release, Conlan weaves a lovely tale about love and redemption, and life’s own magic and escapism. There are some plot twists that you don’t see coming, but in the end, everything is tied up with a neat little bow and you just know that life is as it should be. Told through the eyes of Ronny Roman by way of narrative and live action, the result is purposeful effective and entertaining storytelling.
With only a $25,000.00 budget, Conlan used his own magic to pull off a shoot with multiple locations (including a miniature golf course), night shoots, crane shoots, elaborate props (like constructing a coffin and water tank big enough to hold the coffin) and a cast of 40 – all within 23 shooting days. Calling on his talents as an illustrator, Conlan had very distinct visions of the look of this film. From characters to costumes. Of key concern however, given the minimal funds, was the shooting format. Too pricey for 35 mm, thanks to a structured story with flashbacks, a narrative perspective and the illusory aspects of magic itself, Conlan and his cinematographer Duncan Cole opted for 3 formats – 35mm, digital video using a Panasonic SDX 900 which gives the illusion of film, and 16mm. Opening with home movies from Ronny’s past, 16mm was a perfect choice for time and space and faded sepialike denegration of the film as was the use of digital (non HD) format for the main “present day” sequences. Perhaps the most beauteous look, however, was reserved for the film’s end with the use of 35mm film giving rise to a true cinematic feel. I am particularly amused by and like the fact that Conlan rented a motel room to use as Ronny’s apartment. No fuss, no muss set construction thus allowing attention to be paid to creating the magicians props. A sweet touch, Ronny Roman’s top hat – this is actually a turn of the century antique silk made by the renowned millinery A. Cassee in Paris.
Notable is the work of composer Luke Fitzgerald whose score is light and childlike playing into the thematic process of not only the film, but the childlike illusion and awe of magic. Sweet and simple it adds much to the charm of the film.
THE LAST MAGIC SHOW is indeed magical. With its own brand of sweetness and charm it taps into dreams of escapism and illusion. It makes you believe that everyone and everything has a little bit of magic somewhere inside – might not be the kind you are looking for, but the magic is always there. You just need to find it.
Ronny Roman – Andy Conlan Sarah March – Georgie Hill Henry Peters – Alexander Anderson Celestine – Jade Collins
Written and directed by Andy Conlan. (104 min)
