— a review by Cara Russell —
A preshow barbeque held in the SeaView Theatre parking lot led to a well-fed audience of happy parents accompanying kids with mustard-lined smiles. Nearly every seat was filled in the old theater as 13 year-old illusionist, Matthew Laslo and the lovely ladies (Maria Bullock, Madi Jane West and Virginia Sides) returned on Saturday, July 5th for a back-by-popular-demand Magic Show.
Laslo’s mother, Donna, thanked the community for all of their support in raising the $58,000 needed earlier this year to buy a digital projector and keep the SeaView Theatre doors open. “This years’ 4th of July parade theme was ‘neighbors helping neighbors’,” said Donna. “SeaView Theatre wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for the community support.” She also expressed her gratitude in letting Matthew use the Theater to develop his craft and perform for an audience.
Then Jared Lovejoy told the audience what to expect from SeaView in the future. The first ‘Annual Orcas Film Festival’,will be held in the theater in October. And the Burlesque Nutcracker will be returning again in December, he said.
Matthew kept the audience engaged, involving them in nearly every one of his tricks and illusions. Kids in the front row constantly kept him on his toes, with their interruptions of off-the-wall stories of clown costumes, and their heckling as they tried to catch Matthew in a slip-up.
Occasionally, Laslo would be caught in a ‘planned’ slip-up, encouraging the audience for just a moment that they had caught him. But even those slip-ups were part of the show, as Matthew went on to display the true magic behind his tricks.
The ladies performed aerial acrobatics with silks and hoops. Bullock and Sides were mesmerizing as they performed a graceful routine to Nina Simone’s Feeling Good. And the mysterious Wally the Gorilla, dressed in a golden skirt, provided comical display.
Matthew’s show was highly anticipated. In fact, a second show was added on Sunday, July 6 so those who were turned away on Saturday night — and those who wanted to see his magic again — were able to enter Orcas Island’s world of magic.
We went on Sunday evening, and the SRO event was truly magical. The audience ranged from 2 year olds to ???, with the infectious enthusiasm of the younger ones made it a night to remember. Many thanks to all who made this spectacular event possible — especially the amazing Matthew.