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Wayne Kawamoto

Wayne's Magic & Illusion Blog

By Wayne Kawamoto, About.com Guide to Magic & Illusion

Magician Wins "Sweden's Got Talent"

Thursday June 18, 2009
I'm so pleased to hear that Charlie Caper, a magician, took home the top prize in television's "Sweden's Got Talent," the regional version of the well known show. You can watch his winning performance (it's in Swedish) as well as his cups and balls routine from the semi-finals.

Caper's performances featured high-level skills and great magic, along with lots of interaction and comedy and an excellent running gag. And if the execution of his magic wasn't always perfect (it was close), just try performing live for millions of people and dealing with directors and intrusive video cameras. I applaud Charlie Caper's amazing accomplishment.

While I don't understand Swedish, it appears to me that Caper's stage persona is that of a traditional magician - congenial and likable - who mixes comedy with magic.

I wonder if there are cultural attitudes towards magic in Sweden that helped Caper to reach the finals and ultimately win. I say this not to take anything away from Caper's accomplishment, but to consider whether the judges in the US and UK "Got Talent" shows, who seem to harbor a negative attitude towards magic, would be so open towards his style of magic.

Even the on-stage hosts in Sweden seem intent on supporting Caper rather than snidely detracting from his magic, bringing attention to themselves or causing trouble. I'm not sure that their US and UK counterparts would be so considerate.

Congratulations Charlie Caper. I hope that your big win is a boost to your career as well as to magic everywhere. You may be the spark that allows magic to someday take the prize in the US and UK versions of the show as well.

More Reading:
Famous Magicians
The Top Ten Magicians of Our Time

Comments

June 18, 2009 at 12:05 pm
(1) Joakim says:

I’m Swedish. The patter was a mix of gags and an uplifting message. I can also reveal that both of the hosts, Marko Lehtosalo and Tobias Blom, are popular artists that have done lots of kids’ shows and they always seem genuinely supportive and enthusiastic. Marko (”Markoolio”) is a singer/rapper and Tobias (”Tobbe Trollkarl”) is a magician. Also, Tobias was a jury member in the last season and really pushed for having good entertaining magic acts on the show.

June 19, 2009 at 5:24 pm
(2) Mr Magic Tricks says:

Excellent, someone sent me some video clips of this, amazing performer, Go Caper Go!

June 27, 2009 at 12:16 pm
(3) TV says:

It’s interesting to me how this winning magician did just the opposite of what performers were told to do. He didn’t do something big and splashy, out of his normal style, which is the direction contestants are often pushed. He stayed small and intimate, true to his act…and he won!

July 7, 2009 at 11:34 am
(4) JohnR says:

Goes to show you..magic in any language will please any audinece if it is Good..and the perfomer is liked by the crowd. Great stuff..he is representing all magicians everywhere..even he poor ones that can’t come up to his wonderful performances..!

July 14, 2009 at 2:44 pm
(5) star says:

First off I want to see how great I think it is that a magician one one of these shows.
However, I did not think the final act was very good. The camera angles fair and straight on.

And yet you could see flashes and steals and transfers. Little flashes of what he is using and a big flash on his ending. the camera was not too close and if I could see it the audience might have as well. I was not clear if what we see on tv is what they saw on a jumbo screen. If so they could have seen what I can see.
I was not looking for it. He was just not clean.
I do understand he had some clothing issues that day but some of the hand to hand had nothing to do with that.

So I am surprised I guess that it was that act that one it for him.

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