Mark Nizer stuns the community at PVCC’s Dickinson Building on Sept. 5

On Sept. 5, 2015, the PVCC Main Stage in the Dickinson Building became a different world. The world of Mark Nizer, professional juggler and comedian, is a world of breathtaking imagination and captivating illusions.  For 90 minutes, the packed audience sat enthralled, as Nizer created  a world controlled by a man who has shared his power of vision and illusion with communities all over the world for over 20 years. Audience members surrendered their minds to Nizer, and allowed him to lead the audience into the entertaining night.

The mind-enriching experience began before Nizer appeared on stage. Fast facts and mind benders caught the attention of the audience members as they walked in the doors to find their seats. The introduction was captivating and the mind benders only proved that no two minds are that different.

One of these tricks involved picking a number and then multiplying it and subtracting it, and then choosing words to go along with the number. After about five minutes of obeying instructions,the audience discovered it had wound up with almost the same thought process and answers.

Once Nizer took the stage, the show began to breathe a new life of its own. Music, from classical to Lady Gaga to Green Day, played as lasers, lights, and smoke filled the stage. Nizer showed off his juggling skills along with his clever sense of humor. The show lasted only 90 minutes, but the audience felt transported to another realm where anything was possible. Time and logic did not exist, and there was not an unhappy face in the crowd. Nizer involved the audience personally in almost every act that he performed. Audience members were not just observers; for a brief moment they had a chance to experience the inner workings of Nizer’s mind and world.

Children volunteered to help Nizer with anything he needed. He even showed one child how to do one of his tricks! His warm and light-hearted nature created a night that went beyond mere entertainment. Nizer is a natural performer, and each moment he was on stage the audience was able to feel and appreciate his passion. The show concluded with Nizer meeting fans outside of the auditorium, where he signed autographs and talked to fans. He was extremely polite and approachable. Even the shyest of people could not wait to say hello to him.

The only regrettable part of the Nizer experience is that there is no saying when he will return to the PVCC stage to engage the Charlottesville community with his magnificent presence. This event, however, was practically a full house and the perfect way to kick off the 2015-­2016 PVCC Arts year. No one could have done a better job of preparing the community for a fantastic and memorable season than Mark Nizer did.