Magician Jay Owenhouse

December 28th, 2007

Jay Owenhouse is an irrepressibly cheerful American magician. His show is as pure as his snowy-white soul, designed to appeal to the whole family. He performs January 2 and 3 at the Shanghai Grand Stage.

SH: Your show is family oriented. What do you think about magicians alluding to gore and sex?

JO: Our show is very family friendly, but still has an edge. It’s designed to appeal to the intellect of the adult audience but there isn’t anything off color. Parents can feel comfortable about bringing their kids. Kids love it! I really like Penn and Teller, but I’m not a fan of any type of magic that is crude or lewd. I think it is very awkward.

SH: Magic sometimes has a reputation as being nerdy. Do you agree?
JO: Yes, I agree that magic has gotten a bad rap for being kind of nerdy! But it certainly doesn’t have to be that way! When a magic show is done right and executed well it can be the most incredible form of entertainment!

SH: Your show seems big on the history of magic. You do Houdini’s 1912 “Upside Down” trick (the Chinese Water Torture Cell) and also vanish an elephant, an old trick of his. What’s new about your show?
JO: It’s presented in a very modern, cutting edge style; most of the illusions we do, people have never seen before. However, I believe that some of the best illusions are also the oldest. My goal is to share with people what is nearly a lost art: the live magic show!

SH: Let’s talk danger. What’s the greatest injury you’ve sustained?
JO: Eight years ago I was performing in Nevada and during the Table of Death Escape, I didn’t get free from the leg chains in time. A two foot steel spike went through my knee. It was nearly fatal. I will attempt this in China for the first time since that accident. Fifteen years ago, I almost drowned during the Water Cell Escape. I damaged my esophagus and was hospitalized for a week.

SH: The stake in your impaling illusion looks remarkably like Shanghai’s Oriental Pearl Tower. Do you think you could do the trick atop the Pearl Tower?
JO: The Impaled Illusion was one of the hardest things I have ever had to learn! I worked on it everyday for six months and almost gave up on it! About three months later, I had a breakthrough! It is still very difficult and intense to perform, but is one of my favorite things to do in the show. Trying the impaled trick on top of the Pearl Tower would be intense! I think... I will pass on this trip!

SH: Do you use magic in the bedroom?
JO: Susan and I have been married for 20 years! I’m always teasing her that I hypnotized her into marrying me and that I keep her in a trance. But I’m just teasing. I wouldn’t do that... or would I ?