Magician West wins over crowd with unique act

Joe Delaney

Friday, Nov. 3, 2000 | 10:05 a.m.

"Hocus Pocus -- It's Fielding West" is the evening attraction at the Lady Luck. West is equal parts very funny comedian and proficient magician. There is a constant running comedic commentary accompanying the illusions in addition to very humorous and good-natured audience involvement in his show. It was 70 full minutes without a single lull, low budget but high quality.

We shared a booth with three ladies from Texas who had a wonderful time. The audience represented a good cross-section of the country, and its involvement was total as well. West works with an attractive and very shapely young lady who doubles as assistant and occasional diversion.

West opened with Bob the Bird, which is an actual bird. There was a moment of shock as he apparently squashed Bob. It got the audience's full attention. Bob worked with West for a strong 10 minutes before Trixie, the assistant, took him from the stage. Next came the "Classics of Magic," where Fielding used an old top hat and produced various objects including a skeleton.

A newspaper torn and restored is one of the oldest tricks in magic, but there was a new twist and many laughs. A lady from the audience provided West with a cigarette and the results could deter some from smoking in the future. This led to one of West's strongest segments, fire eating. He passed a needle through a balloon in a costumed portion, again aided by Trixie.

A man from the audience provided West with a $20 bill, which Fielding "changed" into two tens. He then had the audience member write his name on one of the tens, which reappeared in a freshly-cut orange.

There was a trick Fielding's grandfather taught him involving water on the floor, and also water poured from a freshly-folded newspaper.

A woman from the audience was to be levitated. First, he put her in a trance then apparently sawed her in half. Another person participated in a bit involving a can of Coca-Cola and a can of Pepsi, dumb but funny, and a surprise ending,

That old standby, Metamorphosis, was performed with Trixie along with a few surprise twists. Back came Bob the Bird, who was shot from a miniature cannon and caught by West in his mouth. The fresh approach and the comedy made it all work so well. This is another free coupon, buy-a-drink show, well worth the trip downtown.