King reigns with new gig at Harrah’s

Joe Delaney

Friday, Jan. 14, 2000 | 8:49 a.m.

Comedian-magician Mac King made his Harrah's Improv debut Tuesday. He wore a loud plaid suit, which he claims was a hand-me-down from his grandfather. If true, King's grandfather must have been at least two sizes larger than his grandson. King's demeanor onstage is that of a good old country boy from Kentucky.

But be not deceived. King is a razor-sharp comedian, adept with an ad-lib, not the usual stock variety returns, and a magician who can traverse familiar terrain and make it like new.

Very few magicians have received so many laughs or performed as many variations of the good old rope trick as King did for the first 10 minutes of the show caught. Another equally funny 10 minutes were spent with Kathy, culled from a large audience, doing card tricks. Kathy proved an excellent foil, definitely not a plant.

King spent some time with Bill, an earthworm, who may or may not have been ingested by King at one point. Bill did reappear later in the proceedings, apparently none the worse for wear and tear.

Returning to the audience, King selected Jim and Jackie to assist him with more card tricks, made even more memorable and very funny when King donned his "cloak of invisibility" -- really an adult poncho that could double as a yellow rainy day slicker with a hood.

Cards, Fig Newtons and other objects were produced from various parts of grandfather's old suit, including the fly. Fig Newtons were offered but politely declined. The laughs were loud and long.

A brief bit of business involved a paper bag placed over King's head that apparently made his head disappear into his shoulders before "miraculously" being restored. This led to a closing bit with George, a reluctant participant who watched his hundred dollar bill disappear and finally reappear intact after numerous digressions and sustained laughs.

For his encore King coaxed George back onto the stage and asked him what his favorite drink might be. George said that he drank Budweiser. King produced a bottle of Bud from behind a colored cloth. After the performance I asked King what he would have done if George had asked for a mixed drink. King smiled and said he would have produced it.

King has been working as a comedy-magician since 1981 and was actually encouraged by grandfathers on both sides of his family. He grew up in the same area of Kentucky as Lance Burton and once worked with him as a team, for which, King said, he did most of the talking. Recalling Burton's early nonspeaking days in the Tropicana "Folies" star slot, you can believe this was true.

Performances are at 1 and 3 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays. The price is a modest $9.95 plus tax, a real entertainment bargain. Prognosis: Based upon early attendance and response at the show caught, excellent.