Only in Vegas, or a suburb of Vegas, would you find a magician throwing cards over a fence into a neighboring yard, only to have another magician shout from the crowd, “That’s Todd’s house!”
That was a moment Sunday night in Mac King’s first backyard, all-star magic show. Veteran comedians/magicians Mike Caveney (who hosted), Derek Hughes, Rob Zabrecky, Nick Diffatte, John Archer, and David Williamson delivered a crackin’ good time.
We were especially familiar with Diffatte, the youngster in the bunch, as a cast member in “Mad Apple” at New York-New York. And we met and covered Williamson (the previously mentioned card-thrower) in his days as ringmaster in the brilliant but ill-fated “Circus 1903.” That plucky production ran for five months at the Paris Theater, ending in January 2017.
With a (sleight of) hand from his magician friends, King built a proper stage at his Las Vegas home and put on a heck of a show. The audience was a mix of invited guests and 30 magicians in town for a conference, hosted by King. The afternoon mainstay at Excalibur’s Thunderland Showroom is a 26-year Strip headliner dating to his days at Harrah’s.
Billed “The Comedy Comclave,” the event reflected Las Vegas’s position as an international magic mecca. The conference covered three days, and started with a visit on Saturday to King’s show at ExCal.
Afterward, the group deconstructed King’s act (please don’t mess with his Cloak of Invisibility). They took part in the same process that night at Penn & Teller’s show at the Rio.
The visitors also ventured to the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign, where the principal performers were dressed as Good Humor Men while eating ice cream, as Vegas tourists (apparently) do.
Famous contortionist Captain Frodo of “Mad Apple” gave a guest performance at the King house on Saturday. Frodo is famous for working his body through an unstrung tennis racquet. That session led to Sunday’s fully realized ensemble show at King’s house.
Monday, Lindsay Benner of Spiegelworld’s “The Party” at the Cosmopolitan led a seminar centered on juggling, which is her act, dubbed “The Book of Love” in the Cosmo dinner show.
King might continue these invite-only performances. The infrastructure is great for a magic show, or any show — the great showman Earl Turner was in the crowd and could headline the venue. His tap-dancing son, Aaron Turner, was called to the stage three times to assist the magicians. The performer and dance instructor who finished second on season 10 of “So You Think You Can Dance” helped with card tricks.
Not all was dialed in, as can happen at big house parties. The sound system continually crapped out, prompting Caveney to say, “I’m the only Mike that’s working tonight.”
But it was a brilliant night put on by some brilliant entertainers. Asked if his residence was zoned for such an event, King laughed and said, “I think so, as long as I don’t charge for it. I mean, I guess I could — at least once. But we’re not doing that.”
John Katsilometes’ column runs daily in the A section. Contact him at [email protected]. Follow @johnnykats on X, @JohnnyKats1 on Instagram.