Friday, Aug. 31, 2001 | 9:11 a.m.
"The Mac King Comedy Magic Show," an afternoon offering starting its second year at Harrah's Comedy Cabaret, has been extended through 2006. King is genuinely funny, and he is also an excellent magician who interacts with an entire audience throughout, often with hilarious results.
Prior to his entrance in a slightly oversized plaid suit, complete with vest, the audience earlier this week was asked to respond to an old children's song, "If You're Happy and You Know It, Clap Your Hands," and they did. They were ready for his trademark entrance, "Howdy, I'm Mac King." King is living proof that you can be completely country and city hip at the same time.
That old reliable of aspiring magicians, the rope trick, was given a new slant and infinite variations. Next came card tricks, in which he used a woman named Minerva from the audience for laughs; more innovative variations and a conclusion that merited a huge response. Cards appeared from everywhere, including his trousers, with much use made of his zipper during the hourlong performance.
His prop list included a small box of corn flakes, grocery bags, Fig Newtons, carrots, goldfish and an earthworm named Marty. Tabitha, age 6, was his next selected-at-random assistant with the goldfish.
It was the halfway mark, and Sharon and Lorne, married four days, joined King onstage for another unusual card trick, and heavy laughs as King donned his "Mac King Cloak of Invisibility." Dave, also from the audience, contributed a $20 bill and eventually got it back, but only after traversing a long arduous path of obstacles before returning to his seat, his money intact.
The encore, really a finale, was a takeoff on Siegfried & Roy, where they disappeared, and in their place King revealed a stuffed white tiger. King closed to spirited applause as he returned Dave's watch, lifted during the $20-bill segment. You won't spend a funnier afternoon hour anywhere.
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