Vancouver Magician - Clinton W. Gray

reprinted with permission from The Cariboo Advisor, February 2009

Enjoying the Magical Talent of Clinton W. Gray

By Cheryl Engemoen

“When I've made my millions, I'll always have a place for the little people, or large, that got me started. You can be my chauffeur,” wrote Clinton Gray, as he signed my hubby's poster, circa 1994.

Recently I caught part of Clinton Gray's children's amazing magic show held at the Monkey Barrel on a chilly winter afternoon. I thought back to a time when he had first performed at the Excalibur Comedy Club. Where has all the time gone? Those fun-filled years surely galloped by.

Clinton was a teenager back then and was just starting out perfecting the art of magic professionally and now he has truly become a master magician.

Clinton's fluent movements, and his comedic presence always keeps each audience member engaged and paying attention with a strong desire of trying to figure out how he executes the impossible.

Harkening back to the not so financially profitable but fun years that my husband Ernie and I took a chance and bought the restaurant beside the comedy club on Second Avenue, helping them out, I realized just how many great performers went through this now-closed location.

Brent Butt of the very popular television series Corner Gas performed every couple of months at the club. Foul-mouthed but funny Mclean and Mclean packed the club for two consecutive nights.

Comic extraordinaire Richard Lett was a well appreciated regular performer, as well as a hard act to follow. This guy needed to be on stage and pulled a hilarious near three-hour double show one time when the other acts failed to arrive.

Doug Bennett and his Doug and the Slugs band rocked the place, as did Trooper and Powder Blues.

Jerry Doucette had the crowd cheering and dancing to "Mama Let Him Play" and these fantastic acts were but a few of the entertainers who came through that tiny club.

One of the most memorable acts was a magician named Shawn Farquhar and his assistant, lovely wife Lori. Clinton Gray and my son Michael, at that time an aspiring 13 year old magician, would be at the Excalibur Club watching every move Shawn made.

The seasoned magician would work with these two up and corning youth to encourage them to continue the journey and develop their magical skills. Michael attended the magic conference that was held in Kelowna, and hosted by Shawn. This was a special honour for the boy, as he met a number of the most accomplished magicians as well as those breaking into the craft.

Michael dabbled in juggling for a while after he was introduced to another top performer Aire Jere. Within minutes of coaching in the foyer, Michael and Aire Jere came walking into the nightclub doing a two-man, seven Indian Club juggle.

I couldn't help but smile, remembering young Michael who worked as a prep boy kitchen helper. Michael was caught juggling potatoes by our gruff old chef at the restaurant.

"Stop doing that with those spuds, if you drop them they'll be damaged and we'll have to throw them out," said Matt the chef. To prove his ability, Michael set down the resilient vegetables and commenced to juggle three delicate wine glasses.

After Clinton' s Monkey Barrel performance, I stood back to take a few photos and ask him some questions. I was curious to know about these very special entertainers of years gone by. Have you heard from Shawn and Lori.

"Yes, I was just talking to them the other day." said Clinton.

According to Clinton, after enjoying a very successful career aboard the cruise ships, Shawn was returning to Whistler to open an entertainment venue. I had caught the act of Shawn Farquhar a few years ago when he appeared on a television show.

Clinton's career has also taken off. He now performs in New York and has been working his magic in many of the boardrooms of corporate America. Not bad for a talented young man with a passion for magic and comedy. Time marches on in this truly magical journey of life.