Female magicians earn their space in a male-dominated activity

Kayla Drescher, who has been practicing magic for two decades, she is tired of answering what it feels like to be a woman in a male dominated activity.

“‘Woman magician’ feels like it occupies a subcategory in the world of illusionism,” said Drescher, 31, as he rehearsed his show at the exclusive Castle of Magic in Los Angeles.

The stereotype of the magician in a black top hat who cuts his assistant in sequined mesh with a saw prevails in an audience that barely remembers magicians such as Harry Houdini, David Copperfield or David Blaine.

The truth is 93% of illusionists in the United States are malenoted Drescher, for whom “it is still necessary to talk about this.”

It is a proportion that is maintained among the members of the elitist “Academy of Magical Arts”, whose headquarters is the prestigious Castle of Magic, only frequented by members and guests.

Drescher is one of two women on the schedule the night AFP visited the famous castle built at the foot of a hill in Hollywood.

His puzzling card tricks cast a spell on an audience who follows his subtle sleight of hand with fascination.

Drescher, que began performing at age seven, he says he has noticed that non-specialist audiences, amateurs or party audiences, do not care about the genre of the illusionists.

It is “the impressive archaic (mentality)” of magicians that maintains the scarce female presence in the sector, something that he believes is necessary to continue denouncing.

In his career, Drescher has grappled with the exclusion and contempt of wizards; She has even been asked to “do magic in a swimming pool in a bikini” in Las Vegas.

“Magic is generally written by men and for men, so the suits, pants with long pockets, big hands, all the elements are very masculine”, says this magician who is also the voice of the podcast “She-zam” .

“You have to go in, get in and overcome many obstacles to be respected in this community as a magician., and not be treated like just a woman. And that is always annoying, “he lamented.

Winds of change

The traditional role of women in magic shows has been that of an assistant that disappears or is placed in a box to be quartered or stabbed. If it can be replaced as an inanimate object, “she doesn’t need to be there, she’s props,” he said.

“The mutilation of the woman …”, he sighs. “That looks grotesque in 2021. But luckily, it is changing.”

The #MeToo movement started in Hollywood a few years ago to denounce the harassment suffered by women in the film industry impacted the world of magic, increasing claims to make way for female magicians, Drescher said.

Although there is resistance, the winds of change are now blowing more forcefully in the magic clubs, usually dominated by men.

The Academy of Magical Arts faced allegations of sexual harassment last year, according to an investigation by the newspaper. Los Angeles Times.

Its top manager resigned and his replacement, Herve Levy, told AFP that measures are being implemented to increase “diversity and inclusion”, including training staff to avoid sexual harassment.

The group now has 36 women on its presenter roster.

Mari Lynn is the other magician on the billboard the night AFP visited the Castle of Magic. But she shows up with her husband, John Shryock. “We are a team of illusionists. I’m not an assistant, I’m a costar ”, she clarifies.

The couple, originally from Arizona, used to present an act in which the roles were reversed and she locked him up: “Revenge of the assistant.”

When Lynn began her career, she felt that audiences “were much more critical of women trying to make room for male roles.”

“But I am very happy to see that things are changing. It is slowly balancing out. ”

“You are wrong”

Lynn and Shryock presented The big escape accompanied on stage by their two daughters.

Jasmine, 16, wants to pursue magic in the future, while Hailey, 13, dreams of becoming a doctor.

“I’m optimistic looking forward because for Jasmine it won’t be as difficult as it was for me,” says her mother.

The teenager has learned by performing with her parents in magic shows since she was a baby. And he says he noticed at an early age that most of his friends interested in illusionism were male.

“There were times when someone in class would say, ‘Girls can’t do magic as well as boys,’ says Jasmine. “But they are proven wrong.” (I)