Magically Delicious

“I’ll admit it, getting the wrong card,
especially for you. . . that’s a little embarrassing,” he said as he
ripped the offending ace into four pieces. “We’ll try to fix it,
though.”

He tapped the torn card and asked the girl at the booth
to turn the pieces over. This time around, though, the dismembered Ace
of Diamonds had transformed into the severed Two of Spades. Etienne
told the girl to gather the pieces of the card into her hand, squeeze
it tightly and recite some magic words. When she opened her hand, the
Two of Spades was crumpled yet whole once more. He gave a sly smile,
never missing a beat. 

As impressive a trick that may be, to
Etienne, 24, this game of cards is just child’s play compared to the
other magic he can whip up: Making people disappear or reappear in the
most spectacular of fashions, having them float around in mid-air, and
even conjuring up the weather on stage and controlling it as you please. 

Magic man: Check out Leon Etienne’s grand illusions this Friday at the Palace Theatre.

When it comes to magic, Etienne means
business. A highly accomplished and award-winning grand illusionist,
which Etienne described as just a magician with flashier tricks,
Etienne hails from Utica but has performed across the United States and
Europe in both intimate walk-around demonstrations and in his
immaculate stage performances. On Friday, Feb. 6, he’ll bring his charismatic show to Eastwood’s Palace
Theatre, where audiences can expect not only to be mystified, but also
to have many chances to help him with his magic tricks. 

Besides working hard to make his shows
an experience for the audience rather than something they just watch,
part of Etienne’s personal brand of magic involves taking old-fashioned
tricks and revamping them. Instead of trying to become the next Criss
Angel, he’s happy doing his part to help keep the old traditions alive,
evolving, and engaging to the public. 

“On stage I like classical magic effects,” Etienne said.
“There’s a reason that they’re classics: They’ve amused audiences for
hundreds if not thousands of years. However, I do have new twists I’ve
put on them and modernized them. It’s just what attracts me.”

Etienne’s shows also receive acclaim due to their heavy
theatrical influences. For that, he uses stories to heighten the
excitement or wonderment of a trick, such as having a Raggedy Ann doll
come to life and get into mischief with a magician, or Etienne telling
a story from his childhood to set up a trick. Bringing in the theatrics
was a concept Etienne came up with after five years of teaching magic
at a summer performing arts camp.

“That made me think, hey, I can do the
same thing {they do in theater} with a magic show and make it a
theatrical show and an experience, not just be a magician presenting
trick after trick after trick after trick,” Etienne said. “That’s
currently where the show’s going, {telling} the story of my life in
magic.”

Being someone whose life is filled with
magic, it’s only fitting that Etienne discovered his niche by sheer
luck. When he was 12, his mother grounded him, sending him to his room.
He soon grew tired of his punishment and rummaged around until he came
across a magic book that he’d tossed under his bed. Intrigued, Etienne
began practicing one of the tricks until he was able to perform it.

“I {then} went out of my room, which is a no-no when
you’re grounded, and my mom said, ‘What are you doing out of your
room?’ I said, ‘I just want to show you this thing.’” Etienne then took
a card and tore it in four, placed it in an envelope, said some magic
words and pulled out the restored card. His mother watched, bemused by
her son’s newfound talent. “I showed her the trick and she let me off
of the grounding,” he said with a laugh. “I got a great reaction and I
guess it’s that reaction that kept me with it.”

For Etienne, latching on to the human
side of performing to connect with people is the most crucial part of
his work. As much as he loves all parts of performing, there’s a
certain give and take between Etienne and the audience that sustains
him far more than perfecting flamboyant tricks or creating enchanting
stories ever could. 

“Basically what I’m trying to accomplish
when I’m on stage is to let people have fun, and to make people feel
like that kid again, to find that sense of wonder again,” Etienne
explained. “{Achieving that} is the best feeling in the world.”

Grand illusionist Leon Etienne performs
Friday, Feb. 6, 7 p.m., at the Palace Theatre, 2384 James St. Tickets
are $10. For more information, call 463-9240.

—Jennifer Brown