This article was written for Murdoch University: Introduction to Public Communications Bridging Module in March 2012. The Assignment was to write a feature on a Civil Service Club event.

Magic did the trick. I have always been a person of logic; conspiracy theories, ghost stories and magic, especially, never fascinated me. But all that changed when I watched my live first magic show at our Dinner and Dance last Saturday.

Held at Resorts World Sentosa, some 600 Civil Service Club (CSC) members and family members were invited to celebrate the club’s 50th anniversary. Everyone came dressed, and was treated to a ravishing 10 course meal. Children had their own entertainment- a mini carnival set up in the ballroom next door. After a heart-felt speech by our chairman, David Mark, members were treated to a string of exciting performances by CSC members. This year’s lucky draw was larger than life, members won trips to Hong Kong, iPads, Universal Studio passes and many more. But it was Alex Tan, magician for the night, who stole the show.

Alex started off with the basics; card tricks, coin tricks, vanishing acts and such. I kept my attention diverted to my food until he called upon David Mark, to assist him with his final trick. David climbed into a transparent box and Alex closed the lid. From his ‘bag of tricks’, he pulled out a big saw before sawing our dear chairman into half. Everyone watched with bated breath as he removed the saw to reveal David, unharmed. I sat there, mouth agape, trying to find an explanation for the trick.

At the end of the night, many members were seen leaving the D&D with huge smiles on their faces. I left, happy and definitely more receptive to magic, without a doubt.

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