Review by David Goodsell
Fifteen years ago Eugene Burger wrote that “the stunning visual images present in his work make [Jeff McBride] a true master of the bizarre.” In 1991, when this was written, Jeff had not yet fully developed his full-evening show. But even then he was influenced by “the sort of conjuring which…in Max Maven’s words, ‘references a larger magical universe beyond the boundaries of the performance’) can be found in other cultures and in other traditions.” We as spectators, and perhaps, for some, as more serious observers of trends in conjuring, recognize that there is something different about Jeff McBride. An initial reaction is that he is non-traditional. But, upon serious reflection we recognize that perhaps he is among the very few who are traditional magicians. Hmmm. Who is this person?
Now you have a chance to find out. His recent 50-minute DVD, JEFF McBRIDE – A MAGICKAL LIFE is a biographical “documentary [that] features Jeff in performance and takes you into his private world. A world where he and his partner Abigail focus on magickal events and rituals with powerful and ancient roots. Follow them from the bright lights of Vegas to Burning Man in Arizona and discover how magick is alive and present all around us.” You won’t learn any tricks, but you will learn about Jeff McBride.
Most of us have seen Jeff McBride perform. We have been impressed by his sleight-of-hand skills and by the drama, the theatricality, of his presentations. The costumes, the masks and the other props, fit Jeff. Few of us see ourselves doing magic the way he does it. But, you see, Jeff’s routines are much more than conjuring. They represent his “magickal life.” The mask is perhaps his best known trademark, and here we learn the origin of the concept as he presents it, how it grew out of the necessity of doing something… what… to capture audience attention in the rough and ready New York bars and dinner clubs which were his real training ground – a kind of combination of marshal arts and Japanese Kibuki theater. Masks – do we hide behind them? Do we purposefully use them? Do we need them? What lies behind them? Part of Jeff’s genius lies in his ability to sense how an audience will respond to ritual used in theatrical magic. I think Jeff would say that people respond without fully understanding why. They are entranced and amazed, and perhaps it is because the life lessons represented metaphorically in Jeff’s routines speak to some inner, subconscious understanding. Does that sound mystical? Maybe metaphysical? Yes, it does. Do I believe it is so? Maybe. I believe Jeff believes and that magic for him is wrapped in spirituality far more so than for most of us, and I respect that. For him the mask represented a transformation of the Trickster, where the tricks matter most, into the Sorcerer, where magic is power.
I think these transformations become evident as we watch this DVD; but I, for one, likely would not have recognized them had they not been explained here. Jeff describes his meteoric rise to success, to a headline spot in Las Vegas, and then the realization that there must be more. He is not the first to reach that point in life, what can be for some a turning point. Jeff sought the answer in a personal three-day vision quest in the solitude of the Nevada desert. For him real magic began at the fire. The results were, indeed, transforming, and drumming and fire dancing have been an important part of his life ever since. In addition, Jeff developed a strong desire to take the life-changing aspects of tribal drumming, rhythmic meditation and fire dancing into the theater. The sorcerer became the Oracle, and his magic changed in fundamental ways and ritual took on an even more important role. Jeff’s water bowls routine is a fine example of this. But the Oracle does more than perform. The Oracle becomes the teacher, as well, and it was in this stage that The Mystery School was founded in close association with Eugene Burger, who, Jeff will explain, has achieved the fourth and final point in his magical progress, that of Sage. The Mystery School, and later the Masters Classes, appear to be of equal importance to performance in Jeff’s life. Would that we all had attended The Mystery School!
The successful inclusion of ritual and ceremony in his shows and his teaching reflect the importance of the same in his continuing personal quest for spirituality. Magic is all about transformance, Jeff will tell you, and personal transformance is fundamental to happiness, emotional and physical health, mental achievement and spiritual growth. Dancing, drumming, the fire circle, with like-minded people seems something like a cleansing ritual. In fact, Jeff explains that the fire circle is composed of many circles, like the solar system. Those who dance close to the fire, in the orbit of Mercury, experience a more excited energy state than those further out. Each separate orbit provides its own benefit: graceful movement, rhythmic feeling, meditation, etc. Astrology? Perhaps. Alchemy? Here we learn that the fire circle is likened to the alchemist’s flask, where the base metals in our lives, holding us down, keeping us back, are melted down, the dross discarded, and in its place we can find silver and gold. These are interesting… no, intriguing… powerful concepts.
This is an excellent DVD, informative and entertaining. We are treated to Eugene Burger’s lovely Gypsy Thread routine and several segments from Jeff’s routines. We especially enjoyed the “Miser’s Dream” routine using a boy from the audience, and fully understood the tribal coming of age metaphor involved, once it was pointed out to us. We hear from Jeff’s wife, the lovely Abbi Spinner McBride, and Jeff’s long-time friend and manager, Tobias Beckwith, as well.
Storytelling magic? McBride’s magic is filled with stories. If you did not understand that before, you will after watching Jeff McBride – a Magical Life. And we predict you find much more than mere entertainment the next time you see him perform in person.
