Sherlock Holmes

“You see, but you do not Observe.”

-Sherlock Holmes

I have been fascinated by the character of Sherlock Holmes for many years now. His keen powers of observation, his sharp intellect and his absolute dedication to facts in order to solve a problem speak to me in the same way that a skilful magic performance does. Keen powers of observation, a sharp intellect, both vital for the kind of Magic that I perform and as for facts…Well, I’m a magician…I get to play with facts and perceptions of truth…Something that Holmes would most certainly not approve of.

The Sherlock Holmes stories first appeared towards the end of the 19th Century and the character immediately struck a chord with the public. There is quite a big connection between Sherlock and the world of Magic but this particular blog isn’t the place to write about Conan Doyle’s close friendship with famous escapologist Harry Houdini (and their subsequent falling out), nor is it the place to write about Conan Doyle’s Spiritualism and how that fascinating world intersects with my world of Magic. No, today It’s all about the man himself…Sherlock Holmes!

When Sherlock doesn’t have a case to focus on he descends into a world of despair. He relies on his cocaine use and he shuts himself off from the world. It’s his work that defines him and it’s his work that gives him purpose. He has spent his life training his mind in such a focused manner as to alienate those around him and at the cost of everything else that a ‘normal’ person would consider important, healthy and necessary. I understand that kind of dedication and determined study. I also fully understand the sacrifice it takes and unfortunately the alienation that can occur; a separation from what’s ‘normal’ and important. Thankfully, I’m not Sherlock. Nobody can live like that. But I’m glad that such a person does exist within the stories.

There are 56 short stories and 4 novels. You may not have read any of them but I’d say you’ve heard of ‘The Hound of The Baskervilles’ and I know you will have heard of Holmes’ long suffering biographer and partner in crime (solving) John Watson. I urge you to try and read the Sherlock stories. Start anywhere, with the four novels or just delve in to the short stories. There are loads of nice copies you can get, reasonably priced of course and being such a famous character means you can get some very beautiful and collectible copies too if you like. The green copy in the picture was a 40th birthday gift from my friend Gary “You too” Crossan, it really is the star of my collection.

The stories are jam packed with instances of Sherlock Holmes’ methods and techniques that can be directly compared to the techniques of a professional Magician. In fact I’ve always believed that the character and techniques of Sherlock Holmes would translate beautifully into a magic show. So, I have created such a show.

“Sherlock Holmes Meets The Magician” has been my secret project for quite some time and I am buzzing to finally be able to say that tickets are now on sale!

I will be debuting the show on November 24th in The Strand Arts Centre in Belfast. A fitting Venue as many of the Sherlock stories were serialised in The Strand Magazine in the late 19th and early 20th Centuries.

All of my love for Sherlock and his world has been poured into the show. You, the audience will make choices that determine the outcome of the case to be solved and therefore the very outcome of the show. So grab your tickets now before they sell out. I promise you a night unlike any other.

Caolan x

Sherlock Holmes and Caolan McBride Magician.