Shanghai Daily news
Ferocious performing tigers and lions are pretty routine circus fare these days. But how would you react if the big cats were to be ambling, even running, on stage with no barrier separating the audience from the wild beasts?
``Untamed Illusions,'' an animal magic show featuring Picasso, a Siberian white tiger and other big cats, does just this. The show, created by the Fercos Brothers, comes to Shanghai in May. ``The Fercos Brothers have created a new kind of animal magic show,'' says Zhu Laidi, who works with organizer the Shanghai Circus World Co Ltd. ``They can make the lions and tigers appear in an empty cage -- or anywhere -- in a very short time. It's completely different from traditional magic or circus shows. And this is the first time that a show like this is being performed in Shanghai, or indeed, China.'' Tony and Ferdinand, the handsome, charismatic and multi-talented Fercos Brothers from Las Vegas, the United States, are the only magician duo in the world to use tigers and lions in their performance. Also known as the ``White Tiger Brothers,'' their programs include incredible feats like swapping beautiful ladies for tigers, tigers for ladies, or even triple switches between ladies and beasts. The cleverness of the illusion is enhanced by its danger, since the big cats don't enjoy the same intelligence as human beings. The magicians cuddle and kiss the beasts barehanded, a risky venture that ended the career of fellow Las Vegas magician Roy Horn, of the famous Siegfried and Roy show, when he was attacked and seriously wounded by a tiger during a show. Animal illusion is just one of the spectacular magical acts created by the Fercos Brothers. Two empty rotating glass cabinets suddenly yield two beautiful ladies. From the flames of a burning glass ball come two women. A young lady suddenly materializes from a clear fountain, like a pure lotus. There's more: A lovely lady is pierced with a sword, another is cut in two. In addition to the Fercos brothers, the show's lineup includes 10 dancers, one lion, one leopard and four tigers. Among them, Sinbad, the lion, the ``king of the jungle,'' is 10 years old. Sarina, the black panther, is five years old and has been trained to jump. Picasso, the white tiger, loves milk and swimming. He and Victoria, a Bengal tiger, are the proud parents of two tiger cubs. Indie, a male Bengal tiger, is the oldest family member, and the group is rounded out with another male tiger, Rajah. These big cats, who weight from 300 to 400 kilograms each, have been raised by the Fercos since their birth. The brothers consider the animals part of their family and raise and train them with great love and affection. These ingenious animal performers enjoy all the comforts of a royal palace, including a built-in swimming pool and special climate controlled quarters in the animal compound at the Fercos' Las Vegas home base. ``Their animal training is based on affection,'' says Zhu. ``This kind of training yields a more good-natured beast and maybe that's the reason why the Fercos don't need a protection net for their animals on stage.'' Originally from Czechoslovakia, the Fercos brothers descend from a long line of entertainers. Sixth generation performers, they have been part of the family show business tradition since they were only five years old. Tony Fercos is in the Guinness Book of World Records for juggling seven ping pong balls with his mouth, and still performs this incredible feat in his shows. The Fercos got their first big break while performing in Switzerland, where they were invited to perform in Las Vegas, the United States. Since then, for almost 30 years, the Fercos have been based in Las Vegas, working with one of the best producers in the business, Frederic Apcar. In addition to being star performers, Tony and Ferdinand Fercos have gained the knowhow in show business over the past few decades. It's no surprise that they have become the proteges of many of the most successful producers like Don Arden whose show productions include Hello Hollywood and Lido Shows at the Stardust Hotel in Las Vegas. In recent years, Untamed Illusions has evolved into a major production that has audiences on their feet around the world. In 2002, Tony and Ferdinand won the International Magician's Society's coveted Merlin Award for ``Most Original Magicians of the Year.''
Time: 7:30pm, May 2-4; 2:00pm, May 3-4
Venue: Shanghai Grand Theater, 1111 Caoxi Rd N
Tickets: 50-580 yuan
Tel: 6652-7750, 6652-2395
