Making Magic: The Majinx Virtually Impossible Show
In a time of lockdowns, restrictions and isolation, entertainer Lawrence Larouche believes the show must go on.
“We all need a little miracle once in a while to make us smile,” said Larouche.
Larouche is a magician. For more than 30 years, he’s typically performed for live audiences on stage.
“Suddenly, when the pandemic hit, we couldn’t do any of that. We had to find another way.”
That “way” would be found in a workshop on Larouche’s St. Eugene, Ont. property. A building, where he designs and builds props would become the backdrop for a virtual magic show.
“I thought, 'Let’s give them a peek behind the curtain so they can see what it looks like in a real magic workshop.'”
Larouche set up lights and a video camera, and using the "magic" of Zoom technology, he now brings the “Majinx Virtually Impossible Show” to audiences worldwide.
Magician Lawrence Larouche turning on the lights in the workshop that serves as the backdrop for his Virtually Impossible Show. (Joel Haslam/CTV News Ottawa)
“We learned a whole bunch of magic that worked through the screen,” Larouche said with a smile.
“Our audience could see us, and we could see them, talk to each other and interact. Our tag line is ‘You’re not just watching the show, you’re in the show,’” he said.
Larouche is entertaining at family Zoom get-togethers, corporate meetups, and personal celebrations.
“Suddenly, we could perform for people around the world. Last week, we had someone from San Francisco, Hawaii, Indiana, Montreal, Toronto and Ottawa all on the same screen,” Larouche said.
Audience members share a laugh with magician Lawrence Larouche in the top left. (Supplied)
“It’s been so fun to watch their emotional outbursts while they take part in the magic. It’s amazing to capture. We’re all in search of a wonderful experience and magic can provide it. It’s a reconnection with a childhood feeling that you’ve lost as you’ve gotten older,” said the magician.
The magician is also an actor, writer, musician and artist. He designs and draws the elaborate props and costumes for his stage show. His large, colourful mixed media installations and vibrant paintings grace the walls of his St. Eugene home, a former country church where Larouche lives with his wife, Cynthia, and where they raised their three grown children.
Lawrence Larouche drawing and designing in the loft of his workshop. (Joel Haslam/CTV News Ottawa)
“We brought up our entire family here. It’s still a work in progress,” laughed Larouche.
Until Lawrence and Cynthia are performing live again, they will happily share their craft with others on the virtual stage. It’s an opportunity for us to feel a little magic when we really need it.
“I’ve always thought that human beings are much more remarkable than they’ve been led to believe, and I love using magic to help illustrate that fact,” said Larouche.
“That’s why I love them to experience the ‘ta da moment’-- to show them what an amazing thing they’ve just done or are capable of doing. It’s very inspiring.”
To discover more about the Majinx Virtually Impossible Show or to buy tickets, visit https://www.majinx.com/virtually-impossible or Facebook at majinxcentral.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
From outer space? Sask. farmers baffled after discovering strange wreckage in field
A family of fifth generation farmers from Ituna, Sask. are trying to find answers after discovering several strange objects lying on their land.
Pearson gold heist suspect arrested after flying into Toronto from India
Another suspect is in custody in connection with the gold heist at Toronto Pearson International Airport last year, police say.
Broadcaster and commentator Rex Murphy dead at 77: National Post
The National Post is reporting that Rex Murphy, the pundit and columnist who hosted a national call-in radio show for decades, has died.
Justin and Hailey Bieber are expecting their first child together
Hailey and Justin Bieber are going to be parents. The couple announced the news on Thursday on Instagram, both sharing a video that showcases Hailey Bieber's growing belly.
Ontario family receives massive hospital bill as part of LTC law, refuses to pay
A southwestern Ontario woman has received an $8,400 bill from a hospital in Windsor, Ont., after she refused to put her mother in a nursing home she hated -- and she says she has no intention of paying it.
Debate on abortion rights erupts on Parliament Hill, Poilievre vows he won't legislate
A Conservative government led by Pierre Poilievre would not legislate on, nor use the notwithstanding clause, on abortion, his office says, as anti-abortion protesters gather on Parliament Hill.
New analysis of Beethoven's hair reveals possible cause of mysterious ailments, scientists say
High levels of lead detected in authenticated locks of Ludwig van Beethoven's hair suggest that the composer had lead poisoning, which may have contributed to ailments he endured over the course of his life, including deafness, according to new research.
B.C. man used Bobcat as 'weapon' while chasing away homeless people, judge says
A B.C. man has been convicted of assault with a weapon after using a skid-steer Bobcat to chase two homeless people from his lawn, injuring one of them in the process.
Flat tire on a highway? Here's why you shouldn't try to fix it
If you're cruising down a highway and realize you have a flat tire, you may want to think twice before stopping to fix it on the side of the road.