Break a leg? Psychic Tanya broke a foot, and that is the problem

By John Katsilometes

Monday, Aug. 22, 2011 | 5:59 p.m.

If only The Amazing Johnathan could perform medical magic.

Penny Wiggins, better known as Psychic Tanya, caused a bit of a ripple last week for doing … nothing, actually. The sidekick of The Amazing Johnathan for 11 years was not onstage last week for Johnathan’s performances at Harmon Theater at Krave, missing shows Tuesday through Thursday. Her absence was noted instantly.

The reason she was out? Wiggins has been trying to at once recover from a broken bone in her right foot and still maintain her work schedule. Not a good idea, medically speaking, so she was ordered to stay off the foot for a time pending another examination Monday. She is back in the act now, limping and joking to her heart's content.

Wiggins was fitted with a larger splint in the hopes that she will be able to nurse the foot back to full health. Surgery would require 10 pins to be inserted into her foot and keep her off-stage for weeks.

Wiggins suffered the injury 3 months ago after slipping at her pool. Since, she has been leaning (metaphorically speaking) toward the non-surgical approach, as she cannot afford an extended period away from the show.

For more than a decade, Wiggins and Johnathan have put on one of the funniest (and at times, disturbing) comedy-magic shows the city has seen. Wiggins, who has perfected the dumb-blonde-assistant role, helps make it so.

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