Minnedosa Tribune 2011

Friday, May 20, 2011
10
The Minnedosa Tribune
Do you believe in magic?
Photo by Amanda Boyd
Magician and illusionist extraordinaire, John Kaplan, captivates the
audience during a magic show at MCI Friday, May 13th. Pictured here,
Kaplan makes his assistant disappear inside a puzzle box.
By AMANDA BOYD
B
oys and girls of all ages
were enthralled and
astounded last Friday, May
13th when acclaimed ma-
gician and illusionist, John
Kaplan, brought his Fundraising Magic show, AbracaDAZZLE! to town.
Hosted
by
the
Minnedosa District Rec-
reation Commission, Kaplan’s magic show featured a magnificent blend
of magic, song, theatre and
dance; and with the help
of his two lovely assistants
as well as several audience members, showcased
fantastical feats such as
the Twister and levitation.
Perhaps the most entertaining act of the night was
when TCS principal, James
Sheppard, volunteered (or
was volunteered) to undergo the dreaded… acupuncture. Although it may have
seemed as if Mr. Sheppard
had been impaled, all was
well when at the end of
the act he arose none the
worse for wear. The finale
took the audience’s breath
away as Kaplan performed
famed magician Harry
Houdini’s Metamorphosis.
John Kaplan’s interest in magic began at an
early age. “I saw a magician when I was nine years
old,” he explained. “Then
I got a magic set that same
year at Christmas time and
that was it… I was hooked.
I think it chooses you, and
once that happens you just
can’t fight it.”
He was also very lucky
to have grown up in Calgary, AB where there was
a professional magician by
the name of Micky Hades.
Hades was instrumental in
furthering Kaplan’s career.
In 1975 when he graduated
from high school Kaplan
did a five year apprenticeship with the veteran magician, after which he began touring his own show.
Kaplan has been entertaining audiences across the
country with his Fundraising Magic tour for 32 years.
A resident of Richmond,
BC, he has performed
thousands of shows in over
500 Canadian communities and this is the first
time he has been back to
Manitoba in six years. Every show brings with it new
challenges and rewards
and Friday’s performance
was no exception. Before
arriving in town his truck
broke down. Kaplan and
his dedicated crew then
had to scamper to try and
get the truck back from
its repairs in Neepawa in
time for the show to begin
at 7:00 p.m. “There’s never
a dull moment,” he re-
marked with a smile. “I’m
very lucky to have such a
great crew to work with.”
While he loves watching people’s reaction to the
magic he creates, Kaplan’s
real payoff comes in seeing
the community organizations and projects that he
is fundraising for do well.
“The niche that I’ve
found is the one that involves helping groups raise
money through our shows.
That’s been a blessing. My
whole life has been structured around win-win and
I’m just really glad that at
the end of the day not only
are we putting smiles on
kids’ faces but we’re leaving tangible results in a lot
of the communities that
we visit.”
TRIBUNE
PRINTING
867-3816
Minnedosa
Town Wide Garage Sales
Saturday, May 21st Rain or Shine
Sponsored by Minnedosa Chamber of Commerce Retail Committee
North West
McBratney
Tayler
Robinson
JDRF Fundraiser
Christianson
Skoglund
South West
212 2nd St. NW
128 1st Ave. NW (across from TCS)
143 3rd Ave NW
202 5th Ave. NW (Ukranian Hall)
60 6th Ave NW
205 6th St. NW (Proceeds Gifted to Westman Autism
Parent Support Group Camp Fund)
North East
McInnes
Timchishen
Freund
Stevenson
Tomlinson
Sleep
Parrott/Rapsky
Steeves
Jones
Wark
Haywood
Demeria
Reid
North End Brandosa, 10th Ave. & 5th St.
North of 3rd St. NE, Harrison Road
201 Centennial Drive
80 1st St. NE
236 1st St. NE (Proceeds to CHANGE)
532 3rd St. NE
520 3rd St. NE
513 3rd St. NE
317 4th St. NE
152 3rd Ave. NE
203 3rd Ave. NE
164 6th Ave. NE
158 6th Ave. NE
Main Street
The Fashion House
Minnedosa United Church
Minnedosa Dollar Store
Stans Cleaners (West Door)
Minnedosa Youth Job Centre - Serving Hot Dogs at the Dollar Store
Flowers on Main
Pringle
Kemp/Multi
Harp
Holyk
Stratton/Thomas
Woodcock
Mansell
Kreshewski
Gilleshammer
Breeden
DeBacker
Covenant Church
Andreychuk
Johnson
Ross
Shewfelt
Nylen-Nemetchuk
Gilchrist
Burton
Graham
#28 Poplar Trailer Park
233 1st Ave. SW
237 2nd St. SW
207 2nd St. SW
34 2nd Ave. SW (Legion)
43 2nd Ave. SW
243 2nd Ave. SW
361 2nd Ave. SW
367 2nd Ave. SW
133 3rd Ave. SW
#3 - 43 4th Ave. SW (Rochdale Estates)
101 4th Ave. SW
314 4th Ave. SW
332 4th Ave. SW
328 4th Ave. SW (Inside House)
115 5th Ave. SW
163 5th Ave. SW
260 5th Ave. SW
184 8th Ave. SW
196 8th Ave. SW
South East
Douglas
Marley
Curle
Lewis/Multi
Fossum
Dafoe
70 1st St. SE (across from Post Office)
330 1st St. SE
341 1st St. SE (Proceeds to CHANGE)
23 1st Ave. SE
58 1st Ave. SE
107 3rd Ave. SE
Other
Vreeman
4 miles South of Uncle Toms, 1 mile East