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St. Cloud State University
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Comedian brings unusual variety of humor to Ritsche
By Regina Eckes
Published:
Monday, January 20, 2003
Media Credit: Adam Masloski
Tim Gabrielson jokes with the crowd Wednesday night at comedy night in Ritsche Auditorium. Gabrielson used an array of props as he blended magic with comedy to fill the auditorium with laughter.
Any student who attended Tim Gabrielson's show would probably tell you he was not your average magician. No, he did not pull a rabbit out of a hat but did manage to pull money out of a tomato and a playing card out of his pants.
The free show was held Wednesday in Ritsche Auditorium as part of SCSU's Kick-Off 2003. Margo Thomas, director of the Center for Student Organizations and Leadership Development (CSOLD), had seen examples and videotapes of his performances. After showing several different performers to the CSOLD committee, students voted on who they thought would be a good act to invite to St. Cloud State. Gabrielson was chosen for his comedy and originality and he also "had a good reputation," Thomas said.
What makes Gabrielson stand apart from your stereotypical magician is that he weaves comedy and witty humor into his act, perfect for a college atmosphere. He used the right amount of innuendos and sarcasm at the beginning of his show to get a feel for the type of humor the audience would respond to. On his personal website www.keep it funny.com, Gabrielson commented on the type of jokes he uses during his shows. "I have a clean show. I strive on going to the edge but never going over. I enjoy pushing people's limits of laughter."
Ritsche Auditorium was not full by any means, but the applause and laughter continuously bounced off the walls making it an environment perfect for anything Gabrielson was willing to try. Music and lighting was incorporated as well, giving his illusions the dramatic and exciting effect that may have been lacking. By running through the audience and constantly making reference to the same people, students were able to take Gabrielson's humor and jokes home with them.
His illusions included stealing a girl's watch without her knowing it, bouncing an egg on the floor and cracking it open, literally taking the tomato out of a ketchup bottle and clearly ripping apart a newspaper only to unfold it all together again with the rip marks going through it. Illusions such as that are often impressive considering the majority of people do not know how they are accomplished, but the illusions themselves are not what necessarily makes the magician memorable. It's their ability to involve and captivate the audience, to include them in the illusion itself, which Gabrielson achieved.
Gabrielson has a passion for tricks and magic but for also for touching people's lives. He feels that if he can get his audience to forget about their troubles and have fun for the duration of his performance, then he has succeeded.
Gabrielson's magic career started when he was quite young by doing simple tricks for his family. By age 16 he realized that magic could become his way of life and began working at a theme park doing three shows a day, six days a week. He also began adding comedy as an essential part of his show, telling jokes, taking jabs at the audience and responding quickly to people's reactions and comments with facial and vocal expressions. He is one of the busiest entertainers in the midwest, doing more than 200 shows a year and never missing a beat. Campus Activity magazine recently named Gabrielson one of the top ten entertainers, and he has been honored by such shows as E! Entertainment's "Talk Soup," and the "Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy Telethon."
Gabrielson has a fire in his eyes when he is on stage doing not only his job, but something he loves. The passion he brings with him in his box of tricks is captivating and even inspiring. While loud and outgoing on stage, this performer is quiet and modest off stage.
"Are you amazed?" Gabrielson asked in response to an audience member asking him to reveal a trick. "Yes," The person replied. "Then be amazed," Gabrielson said.
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