THE BALLOON MAN

 

Illusionist and perfectionist: Alex Ramon learns magic's ropes with Disney, Ringling Bros.
By Lou Fancher, Correspondentmercurynews.com
from: mercurynews.com
12/05/2012
San Jose, CA---It's getting to be an annual tradition: Alex Ramon and "Illusion Fusion" at Walnut Creek's Lesher Center.

Yup, it's the Richmond-raised conjurer's "Step Aside!" shout out to "The Nutcracker" and "A Christmas Carol" as the wizard in his walk and dazzle in his delivery spins the magic in two shows on Dec. 8.

Ramon does a Friday night gig in Tahoe, packs the whole show up, zaps into The Creek, then skedaddles back to Tahoe for a Sunday matinee.

Even in this newfangled Photoshop/Skype world, it's a magnificent feat, and Ramon is loving every minute of it.

"I'm a natural runner," he boasts. "To be honest, my genetics allow me to stay fit without trying too hard."

This is a man who can hack you in half with a saw and refuse to tell you how he did it, so caution is advised.

"There are only two ways to saw a woman in half: a fake box or a fake saw," he insists. "Or, there's a third way, the way I do it, with a real box and a real saw. It's classic magic."

At the post-show meet-and-greet, people often try to get Megan Doyle (also an East Bay native) to spill the beans. They ask her, "So, you're OK, huh?" Ramon claims they're dying to know the secret ... which is not even up for discussion.

"She has to have attention to detail, stay fit, sign a confidentiality agreement, not be claustrophobic and be willing to do what I say," he says.

Ramon is a perfectionist and he and his crew often rehearse new tricks for months.
read more:
http://www.mercurynews.com/entertainment/ci_22131209/illusionist-and-perfectionist-alex-ramon-learns-magics-ropes