March 13, 2007

“Abracadabra! Local High School Student Presents Magic Show”

BLACKSTONE…Thankfully for his teachers at Blackstone-Millville Regional High School, Peter Bensko-Tarsitano, 17, a junior, is a good student without a streak of mischeviousness. Otherwise, either they or he might disappear! Bensko-Tarsitano is after all an aspiring magician. Although he did not attempt any tricks of that magnitude during his recent local debut at the Blackstone Public Library, he did make his magician’s wand disappear and amaze and amuse his audience in the process. For the past 1 ½ years Bensko-Tarsitano has been self-taught through practice and a guide written by magician superstar, Mark Wilson. As a result he has sharpened his skills at slight of hand and illusion to the delight and surprise of his audiences.

“I saw my first magic show when I was 13, back in my hometown of San Marcus, Texas. Like this performance in Blackstone, it was in the public library there and I was hooked right from the start” said Bensko-Tarsitano. “To perform is a lot of fun for me and I enjoy the interaction with the audience too” he added. “I am always working to improve my timing and techniques. That is what makes a good trick, great” Bensko-Tarsitano said. “This has been fun for me to present this at the library during school vacation week” said Bensko-Tarsitano.

Besides Mark Wilson, the young entertainer lists Chris Angel as another inspiration as an illusionist. The tone of his volunteer performance was set from the onset with Bensko-Tarsitano dressed completely in black for his performance. He got the show off on an exciting note by making a dollar bill, borrowed from an audience member seemingly “float” in the air. Then during the following 40 minutes, he used a screen with oriental symbols painted on it, paper bags, playing cards, a newspaper, a cylinder, raw eggs, scarves, rope and balls as props for 15 or so tricks. Like many of the industry’s greats, Bensko-Tarsitano also used humor to joke with the audience as he went about his performance.

Peter is the son of Julie Bensko and Sam Tarsitano of Blackstone.