Lewin relies on mix of old and new magic tricks

Nick Lewin is in his fifth year performing his "Comedy Magic" show at 1 and 3 p.m. Monday through Saturday in the intimate 140-seat Maxim showroom, which also serves as the home for the hotel's "Comedy Max" show twice an evening.

"Comedy Max" features three comedians with the lineup changed weekly. Lewin works in one, equally adept with his comedy and his magic, an entertainment best-buy with a $9.95 ticket which includes tax, tip and one drink.

Lewin's entrance was preceded by a series of film clips from his various television appearances on talk shows and dramas. An imposing figure, very dynamic, with facial expressions that punctuate his impeccable comedy timing and delivery, his entrance established an immediate rapport with what was a very diverse audience. He entered carrying a suitcase and a stool, then decided to enter a second time to even more applause.

The first trick was the production of a dove from a handkerchief, a fake dove, with an acknowledgment to Monty Python fans. This was followed by silk scarves that changed colors, a standard piece of business with the trick explained followed by a surprise twist ending. Lewin went into the audience, borrowed a $100 bill from a patron, had him write his name on it, then, apparently, set fire to it. The bill re-appeared in a lemon, first as a dollar bill, then as the patron's original $100.

Bits of business with a string in a jazz setting worked nicely, leading into a very funny piece about Viagra, using two very large round pills. This was followed by an old vaudeville routine, the Bandana/Banana Trick. After setting the audience up for the old linking of separate large metal rings, then discarding them, he returned to the audience for an unusual version of the old chestnut.

Lewin gathered finger rings from five audience members then actually linked the rings. It should be pointed out that the difference between Lewin and other magicians who do close-up magic and work with the audience is his unfailing sense of humor and ability to deal with any situation. The suspense was ended when he detached each ring individually for the person who had contributed it. This was this show's high spot.

It was time for a quickie, a spotted silk scarf where the spots fall off the scarf and are magically restored. Lewin closed with two small containers, one containing a glass and the other, a bottle. The bottles and glasses kept multiplying until a table was full of bottles and glasses. He exited to very strong applause, strong enough to warrant an encore.

Really digging back into a bag of older tricks, Lewin takes a copy of USA Today, tears it into very small sections and then restores it whole. He did add that he would never attempt this with his daily Las Vegas Sun, too dangerous.

Departing a second time, he graciously acknowledged the presence of Anastasia Smith, who capably handles lights, sound and taped music cues. The stool jumped into his hand, he picked up the suitcase and headed for the entrance where he chatted with each member of the departing audience, many of whom purchased VHS cassettes and T-shirts which Lewin autographed for them.

Lewin is a multilayered, one-of-a-kind performer; his longevity is well-deserved.

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