HE’S escaped being burned at the stake in King John’s Castle, wriggling out of 100 feet of rope and padlocks in just over 40 seconds to avoid being broiled in a burning bath. But Coonagh magician, Steve Spade was nervous being filmed for a US Travel channel. ‘It goes to 98 million homes in the US and 97 million others in English speaking countries. Let’s just say I was nervous,” said Steve (27).
He came to the attention of the crew of the national Geographic channel after his escape from the burning pyre in the ‘Sacrifice’ montage of Elemental Festival in Limerick last month.
Steve filmed a piece for the show which will screen in late November, but there is twist to the end of the story that he cannot reveal until the show is broadcast.
Steve is a professional escapologist and illusionist. He is about to start touring a Houdini Tribute show with his stage partner, Anthony Black.
A Houdini fan since he was six years of age, Steve has studied everything written or documented about the great man’s life and work.
“He was fantastic. The show I do is the real, traditional Houdini style escapology – real live escapes”.
Steve explains that the traditional escapes are a matter of getting out of tight places, sometimes with painful consequences.
“Houdini said he could deliberately dislocate both shoulders to escape. I’ve found putting a shoulder back in after a show is no fun at all, but it happens”.
Houdini died at Halloween, October 31 1926 and now Steve is planning to hold a séance to contact his hero.
“Talk about a great exit. Houdini said that if there was an after life, he would find a way to escape it and come back so I’m going to try to open the door for him to do that”.
The young Limerick magician needs a venue to whicch he can invite about 50 people for the séance. Anyone who can help is asked to get in to touch.
“Somewhere atmospheric would be great, maybe somewhere that has been some ghost activity.
“Shannon Development was fantastic in letting me do the ‘Sacrifice’ escape in King John’s Castle and I’m hoping to find somewhere suitable for this event as well”, he said… before disappearing from view.
