Magic show captivates Capitol crowd

By Roxann Miller
For Public Opinion

When Jamie Sleboota, 9, took his seat at the evening performance Saturday of the 19th Annual Comedy and Magic Spectacular at the Capitol Theatre, he had no idea he would be part of the show.

"I was nervous and excited," Slebota said abouut his brush with fame after getting a chance to perform with John Cassidy, known as the balloon guy.

Cassidy has performed all over the United States and is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records for sculpting more than 600 balloon animals in an hour.

"I do weird things with balloons. I'm not proud of it – it's just for the longest time these have been my only friends," Cassidy said, causing the audience to roar with laughter while he blew up balloons in a rapid fire fashion.

While he lagged behind Cassidy blowing up balloons and was the butt of the balloon master's joking, Slebota would not have traded his time on stage for anything.

"Being picked made me feel excited and glad because I've never been up there before on stage," he said.

"It was a lot of fun to watch him up there. We really didn't expect that he would be up on stage tonight – that's for sure," said Jamie's mother, Cheryl.

While her favorite part of the show was the balloon guy for obvious reasons, she liked the rest of the show as well.

"It has been fantastic. I think this is just great," Mrs. Slebota said.

Every year the Exchange Club hosts 2:30 and 7 p.m. shows drawing about 1,000 patrons.

All proceeds benefit the E.S.C.A.P.E. Parent-Child Center, Chambersburg, to prevent child abuse and neglect by educating the community and providing programs and services to parents.

This year's goal was $35,000. "I don't have the final numbers yet, I think we're pretty close to reaching that goal if not going over," said Rick Mackey, chairman for the event.

He thinks the show has been a success for 19 years because of the caliber of entertainment.

R.G. Smith, the mastermind of the show and a magician, came up with the idea for a magic show when the Chambersburg Exchange Club needed a fund-raiser for E.S.C.A.P.E.

"We construct it not as a children's show specifically, but as a family show where they can come five and six people from grandparents down to kids and have a ball where everybody laughs at the same things said Smith, the show's master of ceremonies.

In addition to Smith and Cassidy, Saturday's show included illusionist ICE McDonald, John Swomley and DeWayne Izer who comprise the magic/comedy team Haywire, Nathan Kepner who combined magic and American swing music, and The Gizmo Guys - who combine comedy and juggling skills.

"It was hysterical. It was very entertaining. We had a wonderful time. It was our first time – we have friends that come every year and they invited us. We're looking forward to it next year," said Denise Beatty who moved to Penn National from New Jersey.

Her favorite part was the balloon guy.

"I think he's been sucking on balloons too long," she said, tongue in cheek.

Pat Abbott, Chambersburg, came to the show with her husband and two daughters Lauren Johnson, 14 and Leah Johnson, 11.

"Its a lot of fun. It's a good opportunity to see professional performers here in town and its for a worthy cause," she said.