Peter Matika

Sunday Leisure Reporter

HE is regarded as South Africa’s very own Harry Potter and has been entertaining people with his “gift” since childhood.

He keeps his audiences spellbound, from correctly predicting news headlines a week in advance, to eerily using the power of his thoughts to bend metal objects and get stationary clocks to move.

Recently diagnosed with leukemia, Larry Soffer, is scheduled to perform, for the first time in the City of Kings, at the Nesbitt Castle on Valentine’s Day.

He will also hold another show the following night.

“His extraordinary two hour show will involve the audience and is pure entertainment not to be missed. Be prepared to be amazed,” read a poster at the Castle.

The magical extravaganza will cost $25 per person. The proceeds are anticipated to be donated to the Martial Cripps Charity Fund.

Martial Cripps Fund is a trust that was established in a bid to raise funds for 18-year-old former Falcon High School student, Martial Cripps, who was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia in 2012. He has been undergoing treatment since then in South Africa.

Larry was schooled in Zimbabwe and is no stranger to the country.

His skills range from mentalism, mind reading, metal bending and even levitation.

As quoted in his profile: “The illusionist plies his trade with deceptive ease, making the audience feel relaxed and at ease while making objects vanish before their eyes.”

He first discovered his ferromagnetic abilities that allowed him to bend, break and levitate metallic objects, animate mechanical devices, view objects that were hidden, read minds and even predict the future when he was young.

Larry sealed his passion for the preternatural at the College of Magic in Cape Town, the Academy of Magical Arts, Hollywood’s famed Magic Castle and has been performing ever since.

He has performed before awe-struck audiences all over the world that                  have included celebrities, royalties and a legion of fans he’s won over with his original combination of skill and entertainment.

Larry truly believes in the power of thoughts and his unique shows are punctuated by his motivational approach to harnessing the mind’s energy.

“Magic is the creation of our wildest dreams, therefore, my purpose is to inspire people to believe to see, instead of seeing to believe”, he was quoted saying recently.

Larry earned his place in the world of magic after being recognised for his ability to fix broken watches, bending metal through radio and TV stations and reading people’s minds including levitating objects with volunteers on stage and off stage.

Larry is also a member of the World Famous Magic Castle in Hollywood, becoming the youngest South African to have performed at this prestigious  institution in California.

Born in Cape Town, he has wowed and impressed audiences coast to coast, on land and sea, sharing his array of astonishing feats for Prince Harry, Jay Z and Beyonce.

With an exceptional and extensive range of tricks that encompasses traditional sleight of hand, precognition, clairvoyance and telepathy he is most celebrated for his motivational philosophy.

Being a sought after performer by Royalty and Celebs, he is destined to live his dream as the greatest Mentalist of this Continent.