In Pictures: Magic, comedy and Vaudeville at the Performing Arts Centre

By Jason Portras

This past Saturday afternoon, I was privileged to spend an afternoon with my kids and wife watching two great magician entertainers, James Jordan and Ryan Pilling. My kids are still talking about it!

Prior to the show, my daughter was arguing profusely that “magic is not real!” After the show she kept asking me “Why didn’t you tell me that magic was real?!”

Although the show wasn’t packed — 82 people total —  it should have been. It seems there are a lot of Revelstokians and their children who missed out on a very memorable show. Those who were there had a blast!

For more information about James, you can find him on Facebook or through his own web presence at http://www.fuzzyhair.net/. To see more of Ryan, venture over to http://www.wowryan.com/, or you can also find him on Facebook.
In the meanwhile, here is a series of collage-like images that tell a story of magic… and fun:
The show began with a disappearing / reappearing act in which numerous bottles of Orange Juice appeared to materialize out of thin air, propagating themselves like little bunnies. Jason Portras photo
The show began with a disappearing / reappearing act in which numerous bottles of Orange Juice appeared to materialize out of thin air, propagating themselves like little bunnies. Jason Portras photo
Ryan Pilling helped the audience act out typical reactions to magic shows. He then had a little girl from the audience indirectly help him rearrange the placards. When done, he flipped them over, creating the sentence “I knew this would happen.” Jason Portras photo
Ryan Pilling helped the audience act out typical reactions to magic shows. He then had a little girl from the audience indirectly help him rearrange the placards. When done, he flipped them over, creating the sentence “I knew this would happen.” Jason Portras photo
n this act, Ryan gave ten playing cards to two different adult female audience members, one being my wife Pauline. After counting the cards, they were both instructed to sit on them while the entire audience helped Ryan magically move the cards from one lady to the other, which is what is happening in this picture. In the end, Pauline ended up with 7 cards while the other lady had 13. Jason Portras photo
n this act, Ryan gave ten playing cards to two different adult female audience members, one being my wife Pauline. After counting the cards, they were both instructed to sit on them while the entire audience helped Ryan magically move the cards from one lady to the other, which is what is happening in this picture. In the end, Pauline ended up with 7 cards while the other lady had 13. Jason Portras photo
A young man with an infectious smile named John joined Ryan onstage to perform a magic rope knot trick. After cutting the rope in half and tying the ends together, the rope became one again while the knot just slipped off. John looked quite shocked by his newfound ability. Jason Portras photo
A young man with an infectious smile named John joined Ryan onstage to perform a magic rope knot trick. After cutting the rope in half and tying the ends together, the rope became one again while the knot just slipped off. John looked quite shocked by his newfound ability. Jason Portras photo
James’ balloon hat reminded me of one of those strange fish you see on the discovery channel that live in the deepest parts of the ocean. Well, that, or an event I once witnessed at a motorcycle rodeo called the “Hot Dog Pull.” Discretion is advised if you decide to Google either. Jason Portras photo
James’ balloon hat reminded me of one of those strange fish you see on the discovery channel that live in the deepest parts of the ocean. Well, that, or an event I once witnessed at a motorcycle rodeo called the “Hot Dog Pull.” Discretion is advised if you decide to Google either. Jason Portras photo
Reminiscent of old-time Carnival midway entertainment, James juggled and gazed into his magic crystal ball to see what the future holds. I’m going to guess it confirmed for him that his future is a bright one. Jason Portras photo
Reminiscent of old-time Carnival midway entertainment, James juggled and gazed into his magic crystal ball to see what the future holds. I’m going to guess it confirmed for him that his future is a bright one. Jason Portras photo
A young lady named Julia joined James onstage for a magical version of Simon Says. He just about got her to put up her middle finger up to the audience and pick her nose in full public view, but she outsmarted him. Unfortunately, she couldn’t follow his arm bending trick, which blew the rest of us away too. The pictures don’t quite do the trick justice. Jason Portras photo
A young lady named Julia joined James onstage for a magical version of Simon Says. He just about got her to put up her middle finger up to the audience and pick her nose in full public view, but she outsmarted him. Unfortunately, she couldn’t follow his arm bending trick, which blew the rest of us away too. The pictures don’t quite do the trick justice. Jason Portras photo
Here, Ryan performs the classic tearing a newspaper in pieces, and then restoring it to its original state. That trick always boggles my mind. Jason Portras photo
Here, Ryan performs the classic tearing a newspaper in pieces, and then restoring it to its original state. That trick always boggles my mind. Jason Portras photo
This young man, named A.J., was a phenom with Ryan's rings. Jason Portras photo
This young man, named A.J., was a phenom with Ryan’s rings. Jason Portras photo
For this trick, Ryan showcased his artistic skills in drawing animals like the one to the top left, which happens to be a zebra, obviously. After asking a young girl in the audience what her favourite animal was from all his drawings, she picked the donkey. He then put all of them into a big paper bag and proceeded to fish for them with a straight rope. After some time spent arguing with the children because they would yell "you’re looking”, he pulled out an actual donkey toy tied to his rope. Silence erupted. Then applause.
For this trick, Ryan showcased his artistic skills in drawing animals like the one to the top left, which happens to be a zebra, obviously. After asking a young girl in the audience what her favourite animal was from all his drawings, she picked the donkey. He then put all of them into a big paper bag and proceeded to fish for them with a straight rope. After some time spent arguing with the children because they would yell “you’re looking”, he pulled out an actual donkey toy tied to his rope. Silence erupted. Then applause. Jason Portras photo
This was the disappearing Coke trick. At first, the trick seemed obvious, as James appeared to be holding the coke bottle by the cap when the bag was lifted and the coke bottle “disappeared”. It was obvious, that is, until he crumpled the bag that was supposed to be holding the Coke bottle.
This was the disappearing Coke trick. At first, the trick seemed obvious, as James appeared to be holding the coke bottle by the cap when the bag was lifted and the coke bottle “disappeared”. It was obvious, that is, until he crumpled the bag that was supposed to be holding the Coke bottle. Jason Portras photo
For the final trick, James had Stephanie, A.J.’s Mom, scribble something on the back of one of his regular sized playing cards. After being told she could write anything, she actually chose to write “anything”, instead of her credit card information, as James strongly suggested. After spreading the cards throughout the tabletop and adding a single mousetrap, he vowed to pick her card while blindfolded. Instead, while blindfolded, Ryan snuck back onstage and added quite a few more mouse traps to the audience’s enjoyment. Snap, snap, snap!
For the final trick, James had Stephanie, A.J.’s Mom, scribble something on the back of one of his regular sized playing cards. After being told she could write anything, she actually chose to write “anything”, instead of her credit card information, as James strongly suggested. After spreading the cards throughout the tabletop and adding a single mousetrap, he vowed to pick her card while blindfolded. Instead, while blindfolded, Ryan snuck back onstage and added quite a few more mouse traps to the audience’s enjoyment. Snap, snap, snap! Jason Portras photo
With a card in one hand and a mousetrap in the other, he turned over the newly found mini 3 of hearts card that was attached to the back of the mousetrap to reveal Stephanie’s “anything” written on its back. Mind blown.
With a card in one hand and a mousetrap in the other, he turned over the newly found mini 3 of hearts card that was attached to the back of the mousetrap to reveal Stephanie’s “anything” written on its back. Mind blown. Jason Portras photo
James & Ryan put on an amazing show to a very delighted, if small, audience. Their unique blend of comedy and carnival magic under a vaudeville sky was an unexpected treat on a cold Saturday afternoon for all who attended.
James & Ryan put on an amazing show to a very delighted, if small, audience. Their unique blend of comedy and carnival magic under a vaudeville sky was an unexpected treat on a cold Saturday afternoon for all who attended. Jason Portras photo

 

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