Magic master

By Danielle Galvin
LYSTERFIELD SOUTH magician, dancer and illusionist Cosentino may be runner-up in Australia’s Got Talent, but the 26-year-old has certainly made an impression on audiences across the country.
Judge Brian McFadden told Cosentino that he just keeps getting better and better, and the magic man has even been compared to some of the greatest illusionists the world has ever seen.
It’s a long way from the shy, introverted Year 3 student who couldn’t read and suffered through his early primary school years.
“I had a lot of learning difficulties. As a child not being able to read is awful, and you don’t want to do something that you’re not good at.”
It may have been a humble beginning for an internationally renowned magician likened to the great Harry Houdini, but Cosentino won’t be looking back.
“We’ve got weeks of tours booked and corporate events coming up. I’ve spent 10 years living an extreme life doing extreme things, so I’m looking forward to not settling back into a normal life ever!”
Cosentino is enjoying the media whirlwind and a busy schedule of performing, entertaining, and making audiences gasp.
“What I do is more of an art form than singing. That’s why you hear singers say they are songwriters too, because it’s more creative.
“The Beatles were artists. I have to combine 100 different elements; lighting, dancing and presentation.”
While his art form is largely self-taught, he’s the first to admit that its magic’s greats that inspire him the most.
“It’s pretty obvious from my acts that I’m inspired by David Copperfield, Fred Astaire and Harry Houdini.”
At 12, Cosentino saw David Copperfield on channel 9 on Saturday afternoons. It was here that his obsession with magic started.
“I remember thinking what is this? I went to the library and got magic books. Because I couldn’t read I got my mum to read them to me. Slowly, through repetition, it helped me to remember words.”
Soon enough, Cosentino was performing for his friends and family.
When the producers of Australia’s Got Talent came calling, Cosentino was reluctant.
“I didn’t know how the judges would view me. I’m not the boy next door at all, and Australia loves the boy next door. I was taking a massive risk going on the show, but my aim was to make it to the top 10. I didn’t want to disappoint.”
While some may be disappointed in second place, Cosentino says he’s thrilled.
“I didn’t want the curse of being the winner. I’m a bit superstitious. Every time I perform I wear the same socks.”
The entertainer says he enjoyed giving the audiences something different every week.
“Each week I know they were thinking, what is he going to do next?”