Stage Door News
Stage Door News
How do you keep a pinnacle moment in your career quiet for more than five months? That’s exactly what Beamsville magician Nick Wallace was forced to do, after he successfully tricked the famous comedy magic duo Penn and Teller with cookies and milk on their reality TV show.
“This is by far the biggest and coolest thing I’ve done so far, and the most exposure,” said the 36-year-old, who has been practicing magic full-time professionally since 2005. “But no matter how happy and excited I was, I had to sit on this for months, when really you just want to shout it out to the world.”
Penn & Teller: Fool Us is a magic competition/reality TV program in which magicians perform tricks in front of American magician-comedian duo Penn Jillette and Teller. Wallace submitted a video with two tricks last year, and finally got the good news in January that he would be heading to Las Vegas to participate on the show. It was taped in March, where he fooled the famous magic duo and earned a gig to open a show for them in Las Vegas, but then mum was the word.
The trick involved Nick seeking the help of host Alyson Hannigan, who was blindfolded and had no idea what she was getting into. To gasps from the audience, he then tucked a razor inside the centre of a cookie, placed the cookie and several others onto a spinning plate, and then blindfolded himself. He spun the plate and they took turns eating the cookies as the plate turned, until the final cookie remained, with the razor blade resting inside.
It was almost an anticlimactic ending for Wallace. While those who viewed his appearance, originally aired Aug. 27, don’t see it because of editing, he actually walked offstage once thinking he hadn’t completely fooled Penn and Teller, until producers intervened.
“During the taping they guessed sleight of hand,” Wallace, who has previously been crowned the Canadian champion of magic, recalls. “It’s a very ambiguous guess in magic. I did not want to challenge these guys in any way, so I said close enough, conceded and walked offstage.”
A few minutes later, though, the magic consultants who help make the judgment call and the producers came backstage and told Wallace they didn’t get the audio and they had to rerecord. When asked by Penn again if it was sleight of hand, Wallace admitted “no, not exactly” and was told he had fooled the duo. His jaw dropped.
“If I looked super shocked and confused, it was because in the moment I was like ‘what just happened,'” said Wallace. “I was happy, because I knew the first time I had kind of fooled them.”
Just applying to go on the show was something Wallace was unsure of at first. While he has practised magic since he was a five-year-old, he said he originally thought it was “the worst idea possible” going in front of experts like Penn and Teller and having them possibly rip apart one of the tricks that have had countless hours spent on them.
“I realized though, that it was more of a variety show where just fooling them was the hook, and I thought it would be a great opportunity,” he said.
He originally submitted the cookie trick and a card trick, thinking the card one was better, but he wasn’t shocked at the cookie trick being selected.
“It was different and dangerous and would have a good reaction,” said Wallace, who has been practicing the trick since about 2010. “It’s a surprise element and has people on their seats.”
While the whole process took about 15 minutes — about 10 of that was aired — he said it felt like an “eternity.”
“It’s pretty wild. It was incredible just being part of it, so fooling them is just the cherry on top,” said Wallace. “Some of the best acts haven’t necessarily fooled them. Even people at the top of their game, you just don’t know.”
Wallace’s one-time opening gig for Penn and Teller takes place Monday at the Rio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. He said he is excited at the opportunity, and is curious as to see what other doors the exposure might open.
In the meantime, Wallace continues corporate work, private parties and also hosts other shows, including a cabaret style magic show with tapas by the Heat is On Catering on Friday, Sept. 21 at Robertson Hall in St. Catharines.
“It’s going to be a fun, interactive show. It will be completely safe, you’re in good hands with me,” laughs Wallace, who also has three performances coming up on Saturday, Sept. 15, at Supercrawl in Hamilton in the Toyota Art Zone at noon, 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Tickets for the St. Catharines show are $40 each and available online, along with additional information about the event, at https://www.nickwallace.com.
By Scott Rosts for www.niagarathisweek.com
Photo: Nick Wallace.
2018-09-07
Grimsby: Beamsville magician Nick Wallace earns gig opening for Penn and Teller