Magic at the Moore

Young Chang

With floating balls, dancing scarves, flying top hats and -- what else

-- human origami, Saturday’s Stars of Magic show at Orange Coast

College’s Robert B. Moore Theatre will cater to even the most eclectic

magic enthusiast, organizers said.

International performers and regulars from Caesar’s Palace in Las

Vegas are scheduled to appear at the 11th annual variety show, which is

ideal for families looking for tasteful fun, said Dale Salwak,

coordinator and producer of the event.

“It’s an elegant, enchanting evening of the best of magic. Kind of a

potpourri of different kinds,” he said.

Performers include The Majestix, an illusionist duo from Las Vegas;

Randy Pryor, a comedian, magician and Southern California performer;

Dario Vazquez, a Nevada juggler who combines gymnastics with his

throwing; Lee Bayless, who will serve as a master of ceremonies for the

show, as well as perform magic; and Salwak, who will engage his audience

with “magic of the hands.”

“I think everyone loves magic in part because of the mystery,” Salwak

said. “We like to be fooled. But even more than that, we like to be

entertained.”

Vazquez entertains around the world. He has performed in Italy, Spain,

France, Japan, China and Korea. He was a gymnast as a young boy and

started juggling when he was 19.

Today, he can throw up and maneuver five things at a time while

throwing in a back flip or two. His juggling props usually include

bowling pins, top hats, basketballs and soccer balls -- he loves football

and soccer.

“I just put a routine together and, little by little, found myself in

Vegas,” said Vazquez, 35.

If he drops one of his items, he picks it up and tries again. The

second try has never failed.

“It makes it usually more interesting,” he said.

Stacey Jones and Michael Giles, who comprise the 10-year duo from Las

Vegas called “The Majestix,” will perform their famous Origami Illusion.

For seven years now, Jones has been getting in and out of her foldable

box. Giles folds her up almost every night, until the box measures one

foot in height, length and width. He stabs a sword through the block,

expands it again, and Jones reappears -- whole and in a new costume.

“They are absolutely amazed,” Jones said of the duo’s audience at

Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas. “They can’t believe I can fit into a box

that’s 12 inches by 12 inches. It’s not even where did I go -- it’s how

did I fit into that box?”

Salwak will perform his tricks -- disappearing cards and a silver ball

that dances in and out of a purple scarf -- to big band music.

“My magic is classical magic,” he said. “There are very few props.

Everything happens within my hands.”

The Majestix, on the other hand, spent most of their preparation time

packing. They have large props and several vehicles to take on the road.

“We work at Caesar’s Palace doing 40 shows a week,” Jones said. “So we

don’t need to rehearse this. We know it like the back of our hands.”

FYI

WHAT: Stars of Magic

WHEN: 8 p.m. Saturday

WHERE: Orange Coast College’s Robert B. Moore Theatre, 2701 Fairview

Road, Costa Mesa

COST: $14-$33

CALL: (714) 432-5880