Comedic duo Penn & Teller took ownership of the Center for the Arts stage Wednesday night, offering UB a chance to experience first-hand some of their most quirky and daring antics.
Juggling, magic, story telling and a bit of gross humor all came together for two hours of unforgettably insane showmanship, leaving absolutely no question as to why these two wacky guys have earned such an amazing amount of success.
Twenty-six year veterans of the stage, Penn & Teller know what the audience loves and deliver it in a signature style. Giant inflatable versions of the talented team greeted Buffalo, drawing the initial laughs from a cooperative crowd whose audience members were coaxed onto the stage for many of the skits.
The group explained their magic as a kind of religion, after which Penn "converted" a young audience volunteer to the doctrine of Teller, urging the boy to believe in his awesome power, as well as to run with scissors. Volunteer Maggie found herself in a more serious dilemma, as she was blindfolded, stood against a wooden wall while wooden knives were thrown at her. For being such a good sport, she was allowed to take a shot at Penn.
Of course no knives were thrown whatsoever, leaving the audience laughing in hilarity at the participant's believable fear.
Penn, the vocal front man of the group, stood tall above his partner, regaling the crowd with comedic stories in his scratchy baritone. Known for his silence, Teller didn't talk during the show, preferring to hold the attention of the audience with his facial and body expressions. Both a magician and mime, Teller brings some very impressive additions to the partnership he and Penn share; a captive audience would later cringe as Teller swallowed 100 sewing needles.
"It's pretty gross, but I couldn't look away or stop laughing," remarked freshman Tom Grady. Using a small flashlight to be sure, another audience volunteer assured the crowd that Teller had indeed eaten the needles. If his meal of metal wasn't enough to cause squirming in the theater seats, he also threaded the needles through his nose.
Complex card tricks involving Elvis, nude women and mind reading topped off the first act. Those in the audience who chose to stay in the theater during intermission were treated to 15 minutes of recorded frog and toad mating calls.
" I didn't think they were really going to play it, even though he said they would," said sophomore Madeline Kitts.
The perpetual crowd distraction continued throughout the night as "Mo-Fo The Psychic Gorilla" attempted to read the minds of the audience unsuccessfully, but managed to swindle a couple of dollar bills with the help of a young boy.
Penn took a moment to talk about their performance career, and thanked the audience for "choosing to fool yourselves." In high spirits and greatly appreciative of the night, Penn thanked their whole crew, going as far as naming them "the best crew on earth."
Penn & Teller's patented "Magic Bullet" was brought out for the grand finale, requiring two volunteers "who know how to use a handgun." After the last bullet was plucked from their teeth, Penn & Teller took their bows and thanked the audience profusely for its enthusiasm.
