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by Andrew Bowers

On Friday,29 January, the Littleton Lyceum hosted "Leland Faulkner's World of Wonder", and wonder they did. Mr. Faulkner was a performer who was hard to describe: Was he a magician? A comedian? Philosopher? In reality, or what passes for reality, he was all of that and more.

Mr. Faulkner's show was a series of vignettes whose common thread was asking the audience to contemplate the wonders that surround us. But the substance of these varied parts was most uncommon. To begin with, Mr. Faulkner entered from the back of the hall in the guise of "Dr. Henry Hokum," a congenial, if conniving, snake oil salesman who in the midst of hawking his wares did various slights of hand from having signs ingeniously pop out of his traveling case to playing three-card monty.

One highlight of the show was his introduction of a large, round, white screen to the stage. The disk was brilliantly lit from behind allowing the performer to create some truly astounding shadow images, enthralling the audience with swans preening their feathers, monkeys kissing and owls hooting. It wasn't impossible to forget you were watching nothing more than human hands when suddenly the eyes of an elephant moved back and forth or as a lotus bud rose, expanded and bloomed. And then Mr. Faulkner reappeared from behind the disk and another magical moment of wonder was over. Mr. Faulkner has performed literally all around the world with venues as varied as Las Vegas and Hong Kong. Integral in bringing him to Littleton was the co-sponsorship of this program by the Rotary Club of Littleton. The audience readily applauded this organization who provides so much to the citizenry throughout the year, in the schools, at the 4th of July Town Picnic and at the uber popular Appleman Triathlon.

A specialty of Leland Faulkner is his reviving old material from late 19th-century magic acts and early 20th-century vaudeville. In so doing he not only saves these from oblivion but also amuses and delights his audiences. One such vignette involved a simple hat brim, an "O" of fabric, which, in conjunction with very clever musical cues and the artist's agile expressions, transformed before our eyes into various head gear which, in turn, transformed Mr. Faulkner. At one point he has become Napoleon. Now he's "the Singing Nun." Now a pirate, toreador, admiral, Frank Sinatra! Leland Faulkner rounded out his "World of Wonder" with audience participation, dancing butterflies and a terrific bit of business with a handkerchief. This bit of fabric comes to life in a large glass bottle, pops the cork and proceeds to flit about the stage taunting Mr. Faulkner, resting on a swing, dashing in and out of a hoop and otherwise entrancing an audience all too willing to believe in the magic of the moment.

The Littleton Lyceum's 2009-10 season finishes with its fourth program on Friday, 26 March. On that evening the group Rumbafrica will perform music, songs and dances from the heart of Africa. The show begins at 7:30 in the performing arts center of Littleton High School. For more information, consult our 2009-2010 Calendar of Events.