I kissed David Copperfield

Last night, I got up close with David Copperfield.

We weren’t exactly sharing a toothbrush. But by a surprising twist of fate, I found myself in front of a packed Performing Arts Center in San Luis Obispo, just feet from the master magician himself.

He’s older and a little more haggard than he looks on television — not surprising for an illusionist who’s been performing professionally since age 12. The 52-year-old does more than 500 shows a year.

He’s got a strong, slightly bawdy sense of humor. And he also bears the slightest resemblance to actor Hank Azaria; maybe it’s his roots as the son of Jewish immigrants in New Jersey.

Did I mention that David Copperfield’s a hell of a showman?

We watched as the illusionist impregnated a female audience member onstage (not really, but it was funny), vanished 13 people into thin air and transported himself and a woman to Perth, Australia.

Oh yeah, and there was a naughty bit with a live duck.

Then it was my turn to take the stage.

I acted as one of two lovely assistants, holding a plastic tray with heavy rubber gloves and then shuffling a deck of cards and picking one card. (I’m afraid I’ll never make it to Vegas as a dealer; I was so nervous that my leg was shaking.)

Copperfield took a live black scorpion out of the box held by the other woman — poor girl! — and selected my card using its tiny pinchers.

At the end of the trick, I leaned over (per instruction) and gave him a peck on his soft, slightly scented cheek.

That’s right. These lips have kissed David Copperfield.

So how does he do it? I have my theories, but I’m probably grasping at straws.

I’m just relishing my brief moment with one of the world’s wealthiest, most renowned magicians. Hey, can’t a girl dream?

– Sarah L.

Requiem for a drummer

I am saddened to learn of the passing last week of British session drummer Ian Wallace, 60, from throat cancer. Perhaps the name escapes you, but he has backed artists as diverse as Bob Dylan, Don Henley and David Lindley.

He was also the drummer in an early 1970s incarnation of the progressive rock band King Crimson. While Mike Giles and Bill Bruford receive the lion’s share of adulation for their percussive work with that group, Wallace’s contribution to “Islands” and radio recordings from that era is noteworthy.

Most recently, Wallace led the Crimson Jazz Trio, a group that interpreted King Crimson music in a piano trio format.

I had a chance to see them last year at La Ve Lee in Los Angeles, where my table was about a yard away from his hi-hat stand and I could observe the dynamics of his performance up close. (His playing gave no indication that he was in ill health.)

Wallace proved to be quite the English gentleman during the break when he signed a CD for me. It’s a long story, but I had made a suggestion that alleviated a technical problem the band was experiencing and he was most effusive in his thanks.

– Al B.

Hold the butter

I have to say, the digital video recorder – DVR, for those of us in the know -- has opened up a new world for me.

Take the Oscars, for instance. Usually pretty boring, right? It lasts about nine hours and features overdone musical numbers, cheesy tributes to people I don’t care about and long, blathering speeches that consist of actors thanking everyone they’ve ever met, including the valet (who, by the way, once worked as a gaffer for three episodes of “Sabrina the Teenage Witch”).

No more. This year’s Oscars went by at breakneck speed, thanks to my new friend. Any time something remotely boring began, I just zipped forward until I found something interesting, like, say, another shot of Jack Nicholson’s bald head. Because, really, who cares who won the Oscar for Live Action Short Film? It was hard enough getting out to see all the prominent nominated movies, let alone “Binta and the Great Idea.”

Here’s a great idea: Drop all the boring categories and stick to the good stuff.

I had to see all the main movies, of course, because the features team does its annual Oscar picks story. This year was especially challenging for us because so many of the movies came out late. So Sarah Linn and I were on a mad dash to see everything we could. Which isn’t a bad thing, you know — we dig movies. But I do need to vent a bit:

I won’t mention any names, but there’s one local theater in particular that has jacked up prices significantly. A small popcorn at this theater is now $5.25, and a small soda is $4. (Please don’t tell me this escalation has something to do with turmoil in the Middle East.)

So including the price of a movie ticket, that’s $17.50 for one person. Yikes -- I could almost buy a CD at Starbucks for that! I don’t care how much I’m overwhelmed by the smell of popcorn — and it is indeed alluring — I refuse to buy popcorn there. In fact, just out of spite, I might sneak a can of soda in, then loudly crack it open as the film begins and proceed to laugh maniacally.

Revolution starts from the ground up, my friends.

And get this: Not only are the concessions outrageous, but we also have to sit through commercials — yes, COMMERCIALS — before the previews start. So not only do I have to pay $4 to get a Coke, I then have to be subjected to a Coke commercial I’ve already seen on TV a hundred times.

This is why, yet again, you gotta love The Palm Theater in SLO. Yeah, it’s small, and, yeah, the seats don’t come with ottomans. But, you know what? No commercials. And you can still get a popcorn and a soda for under five bucks.

-- Pat P.

Live From the Oscars

Welcome to the Tribune’s features staff blog, SLO Goings. It’s a place for the staff of Central Coast Living and the Ticket section to talk about the latest in arts and entertainment news.

Is it just me or were the Oscars a little more fun this year?
Sure, the big prizes came as no surprise: Forrest Whitaker, Helen Mirren, Martin Scorsese. And the evening swept along smoothly with good will and gentle joking from TV comedienne Ellen DeGeneres.
Here’s what made the Oscars speed by:

• A sound effects choir recreating screeching tires, “Singing In the Rain” and the shower scene from “Psycho.”


• Will Ferrell, Jack Black and John C. Reilly threatening to thrash Peter O’Toole and romancing a bemused-looking Helen Mirren with their lament about comedians at the Oscars.


• Interpretive dance troupe Pilobolus, known for its acrobatic Hyundai ad, re-creating shadow puppets of everything from the penguins in “Happy Feet” to that pitchfork shoe from “The Devil Wears Prada.” (The icon for “Snakes on a Plane” was more memorable than the movie.)


• Great gowns, quick-paced dance numbers and well-deserved awardees.
  That’s what I call a party.
  
  THE BEST: Plenty of moving moments in the acceptance speeches by best acting winners Forrest Whitaker and Helen Mirren. Whitaker proved he’s more teddy bear than terror with a near-tears speech about his humble upbringings and dreams of connecting to “that belief in of all of us.” And Mirren provided what is sure to be this year’s most popular sound bite, hefting her Oscar and announcing, “Ladies and gentlemen, the queen.”
  
  MARTIN SCORSESE: We all saw this one coming. The fast-talking director with the fierce eyebrows accepted his statuette from a trio of his peers — Steven Spielberg, Francis Ford Coppola and George Lucas — before greeting a standing ovation with the words, “Could you double-check the envelope?”
  Very terse. Very direct. Very Marty.
  Film editor Thelma Schoonmaker, who won for “The Departed,” said it best: “Working with Marty is quite something. It’s tumultuous, passionate, funny … and like being in the best film school in the world.”
  
  MAN OF THE HOUR: Even with Marty’s big triumph, former vice president Al Gore nearly stole the show with his documentary, “An Inconvenient Truth.” Eco-celebrity Leonardo DiCaprio called him a “true champion of the cause” and joked that he should announce a new run for president. (Gore replied, “I’m just here for the movies, Leo.”) Singer-songwriter Melissa Etheridge thanked Gore for showing her that “caring about the environment is not Republican or Democratic.”
  He looks pretty good in a tux, too.
  
  INTERNATIONAL FLAVOR: As several presenters noted, this was one of the most international Oscar ceremonies in years. With Spain, Japan, Germany and Africa in the running, Mexico’s “Pan’s Labryrinth” became this year’s “little film that could” with wins for cinematography, art direction and makeup.
  Here’s the local connection: Santa Maria firm Café FX created all the visual effects in “Pan’s Labyrinth” and acted as associate producer of the film.
  
  SPRING HAS SPRUNG: Spring arrived to the Oscars with a wave of gauzy pastels. Kate Winslet and Beyonce Knowles went for light green gowns with sweeping, over-the-shoulder draping.
  Cate Blanchett squeezed into a sparkling shark-silver sheath, a huge contrast to Penelope Cruz’s dramatic spread of champagne-colored feathers.
  There were a few missteps, however. Jennifer Lopez’s crystal-encrusted Greek goddess gown looked dated and dowdy. Gwyneth Paltrow — remember her “poor little Goth girl” misstep in 2002? — paired pleats and peach. And Kirsten Dunst’s sequins, feathers and collar created one confusing silvery gown. No wonder she looked so tired.
  As for the men, even Ellen DeGeneres’ suits were more inventive. Still, Djimon Hounsou looked GQ handsome with necktie and shades.