To: The Rabbit who wrote (24517 ) 8/28/2002 9:10:35 AM From: SIer formerly known as Joe B. Read Replies (1) | Respond to of 62554 Rabbit Ban Misses by a Hare Wed Aug 28, 8:47 AM ETstory.news.yahoo.com Officials in northern England have apologized to magicians for barring them from performing one of the oldest tricks in the book — pulling rabbits out of hats. Newcastle City Council said Wednesday that it had been wrong to tell magicians they could not use live animals in shows performed on council property. Magician Martin Duffy said the ban had caused disappointment for children attending magic shows at local libraries. "The whole show builds up to the climax of the rabbit appearing, the kids expect it," said Duffy, who performs under the stage name Martin the Magician — along with his white rabbit Sapphire, who usually appears from a box at the end of his act. "I had to rewrite the act and so I told the children `There was an old witch who looked down from her castle and she saw that the children were enjoying themselves and so she got the rabbit banned,'" Duffy said. A city council spokesman said the council had a long-standing ban on animals in circus shows, but not in magic acts. "Unfortunately, following complaints from the public, staff misunderstood the policy and sent out letters to magicians saying animals were not allowed in magic shows," he said on customary condition of anonymity. "This was an overreaction and we apologize to magicians who may have been affected." Last week newspapers reported that a Newcastle council employee had banned a clown from performing a traditional Punch and Judy show because the knockabout puppets could encourage domestic violence. A local authority spokesman later said an overzealous employee had "overstepped the mark."