Sofia Vyas
The Norvil & Josephine magic show.
- Credit: Eric Richmond
An iconic magic trick, which was first performed in Finsbury Park, has turned 100 years old.
The illusion of sawing a woman in half was first performed by P.T Selbit at Islington’s Finsbury Park Empire on January 17, 1921. There have been so many variations developed since the debut of this effect, said Christopher Howell, an Islington resident and member of the prestigious Magic Circle. Like in all magic effects, there is never just one way to do something.
The illusion Christopher uses in his vaudeville-inspired magic variety show, Norvil & Josephine, is a standing-up variation with a comic 21st century twist that turns the trick on its head.