LA WEEKLY REVIEW 2/25/05

WIZARD FINGER
Part open mic, part rave and part circus, this neo-millennial variety show hosted by creators Jill Benjamin and Kara McNamara offers a little bit of everything, from monologues to music to acrobatics. The night reviewed offered a beguiling series of eclectic spectacles, opening with shaggy-looking, denim-clad country crooner Zach Selwyn, warbling a witty honky-tonk rap entitled "Cartoons I’d Like To Fuck." He was followed by snappy monologues by Benjamin, reciting her hilarious tale of spending one night in the entourage of actress Lindsay Lohan, and by comedian Hayes MacArthur, fondly describing a family friend who happened to be a legendary professional wrestler. There were also two house bands — one a sort of drum circle, and the other a fusion group that plays surprisingly tuneful jazz covers of Black Sabbath songs. But the show’s most astonishing moments come as the audience is sent into the alley to watch the fire gymnastics of the Indra Yoga and Dance Troupe, who whirl flaming Hula-Hoops and toss fire batons under the full moon. Though the show changes every week, the one I saw flowed like a dream, celebrating a wide range of local artistry. Art Players Studio, 6585 Santa Monica Blvd., Hlywd.; Wed., March 2, 8 p.m. (310) 966-3672. Written 02/25/2005 (Paul Birchall)