Without realizing it at the time, Alain Choquette was brewing the recipe that would make him an internationally known magician as he humorously performed tricks on the show Ad Libin the 1980s and 1990s.
It was one of the most popular segments on this late night talk show. Once a week, young Alain Choquette surprised the host Jean-Pierre Coallier with his ingenious tricks and made him laugh with his jokes… bags.
“I learned that the fun comes in the living room. When I create an act, I want to bring back these kinds of emotions,” says the speaker from Quebec, the MAGICAL city! (formerly Quebec Magic Festival) and remembered the giggles on TV.
“Jean-Pierre was an ace. He was so charismatic. He actually laughed. I wrote my texts with Pierre Légaré and Christian Tétreault based on Jean-Pierre. Sometimes the gag could be so shallow, but that was to be expected. The flatter he was, the more he laughed. He said, “I can’t believe you made that joke.” »
Photo Cédric Bélanger/Le Journal de Québec
Limited Mages
This desire to properly stage his magic tricks has never left him. It’s fundamental. Nothing worries him more than a magician with impeccable technique but no sense of showmanship.
“I see a lot of them,” says Alain Choquette. Unfortunately, these people won’t be limited to much. When you play in big halls, you have to play big. This doesn’t mean having big companies, but attracting everyone’s attention and interest. »
He himself knows something about it, as he received a one-year contract in Atlantic City thanks to an act in which he made 12 randomly selected people disappear from public view.
More than a children’s show
Alain Choquette also regrets that magic is often associated with a show for children. “If you come by and look at what we will be presenting as part of the festival, it is top-class,” he corrects. In the world there are magic championships in different categories and there is a champion of champions. We have three here. »
Once again he returns to the area of staging, which is all about captivating the audience.
“I was working on a TV show on NBC called World’s Greatest Magic, and there was a girl who levitated a metal ball. It’s an old thing that lasts 30 seconds, but it lasted five, six minutes, she was dancing with the ball, it was so sensual, it was so beautiful. »
To be seen in Quebec, MAGICAL city !
- Big international magic show on September 21st, 22nd, 23rd and 24th at Le Diamant Theater
- Fredo presents “An Elephant in the Room” on September 20th at 6 p.m. at the Collège Saint-Charles-Garnier
- Place de la famille Desjardins, activities for everyone, from September 21st to 24th, Place D’Youville