Comedian, actor, illusionist Steve Valentine will bring his Life and Other Deceptions tour to the River Run Centre on Saturday, Sept. 16 at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets, available online, are $45 for adults or $35 for those aged 12 and younger.
About Steve Valentine
It’s 1999 and as an aspiring young actor and magician, fresh off the boat in Hollywood, Steve Valentine was stunned to discovered that having two passions and two careers was a huge problem. The ‘powers that be’ wouldn't take him seriously as an actor if they saw him do magic, and when a big movie producer denied him a chance because he had seen him perform at the world famous Magic Castle, Valentine realized, (as he says in his new live show) “you just can’t be two things in Hollywood, they don’t make the pigeon holes big enough.”
He knew he had to make a choice. The multi-award winning magician angrily gave up one of his babies, his love of magic, to focus on the acting, banning himself from ever doing another magic trick. He even denied being a magician on live TV. “I got paranoid about it,” he admits, but it worked.
Cut to, 17 years, 250 hours of TV and film later to find the TEEN BEACH - HOUSE - MUM - I’M IN THE BAND actor drawn back to his former love with a whole new affair shattering his magical celibacy.
But what was the powerful force that changed his mind?
According to Valentine, it was a series of bizarre coincidences that wouldn't stop nudging at him and finally three stunning moments of what he calls ‘real life magic' that finally got his attention. He chronicles it all, warts and all, in his new highly acclaimed live one man show. A show that finally combines all his passions, and he is now touring internationally.
By fusing his knowledge of wizardry and acting Valentine has created an exciting hybrid of captivating story, stunning magic and humour that seamlessly propel the narrative forward. A one man magic play that audiences are eating up. Pauline Adamek at Arts Beat LA called it: “Dazzling, hilarious, fast-paced and introspective,” and social media has been a buzz with personal reviews.
Life and Other Deceptions blasts the lid off Steve’s journey as an actor and magician through Hollywood as a naive 20 year old arriving in LA and facing obstacles, brick walls, temptations and tough decisions, yet often finding beauty and grace among the minefield that is La La Land.
“I wanted it to be real and honest, two words not exactly synonymous with Hollywood.” He dug deep, exposing demons he'd repressed for years, and in embracing and shining a spotlight on them, discovered he wasn't alone.
“The response has been overwhelming," says Valentine, “I’m so grateful, and thrilled that this story connects with people. Many leave the theatre chanting the theme, #magicisreal, some have even said they feel hope for the first time in a long time.” That’s a lot to get out of an autobiographical, one-man magic show, but based on the response, it’s hitting home.
But Valentine wasn’t always sure that weaving his words and magic in a way that animates the storytelling would work. He was terrified it would all crash and burn. “Yes, it’s a showbiz story,” adds Valentine, “but will people relate? Will anyone care?" Luckily they did.
“I think what worked in the end was that this is a very human story. The world is so divisive right now and yet this show is about how I believe we are all connected, all on the same journey searching for love, laughter and wonder, and in my show I have proof, maybe it’s just the right time for this.”
Valentine adds “It’s also a show about being honest with yourself, and never saying NEVER AGAIN.” He laughs, “I guess hell froze over.”
Valentine pulled all his experience and tinsel town contacts together to make the show work, including a trick he invented that was built by Spectral Motion, the powerhouse Hollywood special effects studio. “It’s the fastest, funniest and most expensive thing in the show, and something I could never have done way back then.”
But sometimes when you face your past, your past stares back. Strange things have been happening nightly. People with vast, distant and unique connections to Valentine’s past have serendipitously appeared in the audience: A guy was dragged there by his girlfriend to discover Valentine was the subject of his first ever paparazzi photo shot he sold 15 years ago, a shot that started his career, the agent who in 1988 booked him on a cruise ship that was responsible for starting his journey to the US, happened to be in the audience one night. Valentine hadn't seen or spoken to him since that fateful audition, and even stranger, a UK actress, Sue Devaney, who Valentine lost touch with 30 years ago was in Los Angeles for the first time, and decided to a buy a ticket. Why is that strange? Valentine explains, “I actually quote her in the show, she was the one who encouraged and inspired me to try Hollywood, without her I wouldn’t be here, and suddenly there she is in the audience and I’m speaking her words.”
“It’s been awesome, as if the world is saying we can be everything we want to be. That we should never hold any part of ourselves back...”
