SEPTA Continues Its Magic with Annual Show/Fundraiser

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On Friday May 8, Somers SEPTA once again added some mystery to the air in the High School Auditorium. “The littles will be impressed but so will the adults,” said Co-President Tara Tierney.

Referring to the annual magic show/fundraiser, the Somers Mom was not wrong.

One of the rising stars in the field of magic, Eric Wilzig didn’t waste any time getting started either. He quickly called a younger to the stage and had the boy carefully inspect the magic box. “Make sure there’s no trap doors or any way to escape,” he told Matthew.

So the student kicked and prodded and gave a seal of approval. Ready to go, Wilzig’s assistant entered the box, and the magician applied the locks. Then the illusionist climbed a top the box, rose a curtain above his head, and when the fabric dropped, the assistant now replaced him.

Even so, the mystified audience had more to figure out when the opened box revealed a handcuffed Wilzig. To this, Matthew gave voice to the misdirection. “How did that happen," he said as leaving the stage.

Next, the magician played some serious mind games. Asking the audience if they’d ever heard of twin telepathy, the kids in the crowd quickly responded in the affirmative. So up to the stage came Stacy and Brian, and with the wave of his hand, the magician declared them connected.

On their blind folds went and the crowd waited in anticipation for what came next. Wilzig stood in and told Stacy to raise her left or right hand based on the side of the body he touched. Only thing, he was standing next to Brian, and every left or right touch had Stacy raise the corresponding hand.

Onto the other side, the magician got a little help with the comedy. He poked Stacy on the right, and Brian raised his right foot. So the magician got even. He poked Stacy with a fork, and Brian erupted out of his chair.

Safely undamaged, Brian (and Stacy) apparently weren't done. “You’ll be connected for seven more hours,” he delighted the crowd.

This head-game was nothing compared to what came next. First the mentalist asked for skeptics, and “Victoria” answered the call. Comedy was first, though. Wilzig took out a small chalkboard, scribbled, and asked if there was any way he would know what word she would say next.

Of course, the participant said “no,” and when the chalk board turned, the mic was dropped. “No,” he was right on the nose.

Then the real chicanery began. Wilzig pulled out a Harry Potter novel and had Victoria pick out a word from the book. Soon enough, he was writing on the chalkboard, and Victoria was on the docket. She revealed the word Monster, and there it was in black and white.

But this trick was just kid stuff. The next contestant did the same number, and “half heartedly” was her choice. Wilzig’s board turning, the audience seemed to have the last laugh with a reveal of “329.1.13.”

Out came the magician’s dictionary, and turning to page 329, column one and word number 13, Wilzig delivered a one word punchline. “Half-Heartedly” occupied the space, and the audience laughed through their disappointment.

Barbara had more than dismay when Wilzig did a number on her phone. The magician claimed that whirling a phone can cause the time to change. 5:42 in this case, he took her phone, placed it in a bag that was attached to a string, and readied to swing. Unfortunately, the hard rotation crashed into a chair, and sounded bad. “Do you have Apple Care,” he tried to deflect.

Not to worry, the phone proved to be intact, and the time change held. Laughs and awe obviously forthcoming, there’s no misdirection when it comes to SEPTA’s mission, and Kristy Urgo summed it up for all the appreciative parents and children “We’re very lucky,” said the mom of a special education student. “We were welcomed from the moment we got here.”

And Somers will never have to pull a rabbit out of the hat to fill the needs of every child.

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