Extreme magic and deadly escapes

Tickets still on sale at www.venetianmacaotickets.com include one of the world’s greatest magicians and escapists, Robert Gallup, who will put on a heart-stopping performance at the Sands Macao Theater from November 29-December 2.

Gallup is best known to Chinese audiences with his death-defying act at the Great Wall five years ago, where he had to wrench himself free from a burning rope – tied upside down – within a matter of seconds.

Escapology is a serious and dangerous act compared with performances of magic tricks, Gallup said at a recent press conference, trying to draw a clear line between the two.
“There is nothing magical about escapology. It is all about skill, timing and practice,” he said. An error in the escape procedure could be catastrophic, if not fatal.

Gallup, who is recently married, says that he does not possess any death wish. “I want to return to my family and wife at the end of each day, but at the same time I find it so thrilling to push myself to the extreme. It somehow makes the challenge so much real, if you know the consequence is death.”

Gallup, who enjoys similar fame in Las Vegas as David Copperfield, has been practicing his escapology skills for two decades. There are many elements essential to successful escapology. An important one is mental power, or high concentration on what one has to do in extreme circumstances.

In the upcoming “Extreme Magic & Deadly Escapes” show, Gallup will present a complete show demonstrating different aspects of magic and escapology.