Sleight-of-hand master David Ben on elevating magic to art
David Ben drew inspiration from people like Frank Sinatra and Glenn Gould for his new magic show, simply called Tricks.
Three decades ago, David Ben left a career in law to pursue his passion: magic. Now he's one of the top sleight-of-hand artists in the world, performing over the years at Shaw Festival and Luminato.
His new show, simply called Tricks, is now playing at Toronto's Soulpepper theatre. Ben talks to Shad about the surprising array of people that inspired the program — from Frank Sinatra to Glenn Gould — and how he straddles several decades with his performance.
He also explains why magic is musical, how wonder makes our world seem bigger, and how he tries to elevate his trade.
"Magic is primarily a craft, but in the hands of an artist it can be an art."