Lightfooted Kenneth, Colorado’s Comedian

If you have been visiting the Hobart mall or Salamanca Place in recent days you may have seen the comedian/magician Kenneth Lightfoot performing his brand of street magic.

Kenneth Lightfoot is indeed light of foot, particularly when he is launching a playing card to the top of one of Hobart’s buildings. Additionally, Kenneth’s present home of Boulder, Colorado because of its healthy open spaces and rocky mountains is known for its fit and healthy citizens, so the surname is apt in that respect but Kenneth is light of heart too, indeed when we chatted he talked about the joy of bringing smiles to faces being the impetus behind his work.

Magic’s mystery meanders into the persona of Kenneth himself. Kenneth might be mistaken as of American Indian heritage because of his name or be considered a member of orthodox Judaism for his fashion in hats or as one young boy ventured to ask Kenneth was he Amish? Again, this question prompted by the hat and the beard he wears.

Magicians make up part of that creative group of artists that suspend both literally (on occasion) and figuratively our beliefs about the world around us. They throw logic, like that playing card, to the wind in the hopes of a successful stunt that will stun and amaze.

Imagine for one moment sitting around a table with a group of individuals that might be performers in a circus, contortionists, magicians of all types and fire eaters and sword swallowers among others. What a surreal brainstorming session that would be, with members of that elite group, breathing fire, (literally) and just conveniently ‘vanishing’ if an agreement in discussion could not be reached,

It was one of this select family, a Tassie sword swallower that encouraged Kenneth, after he completed a tour of Europe, to visit Tasmania as part of his Australian tour.

When I spoke to Kenneth he told me about the need to perform each day in the same way a priest is beckoned to perform mass daily. There is a common thread running through both occupations, both professions require suspension of all we hold as the logic of the world we live in and prompt us to believe in a mystery of faith in another realm.

Kenneth’s life may be enviable, already this year he has travelled to Europe including the UK, Denmark and Holland, and after his stint in Hobart he will be going to Vietnam and the Philippines but his constant travelling means he rarely sees the rocky mountains of his home of Boulder, Colorado. Colorado is from the Spanish for red earth and famous comedic alumni are Tim Allen and Roseanne Barr so maybe there is something about that awe inspiring landscape that inspires the comedic performer.

Kenneth believes his comedy takes prominence over the magic in his act and one would agree with this. On a recent performance a young man chatting on his mobile while Kenneth was performing was abruptly cautioned to pay attention and his phone was whisked out of his hands. Like the best ad libber Kenneth took the phone to his ear and answered the young man’s girlfriend on the other end of the line with a cool comment that went something like this

To the girl on the other end of the phone
‘Yes, he’s here…(and the punch line) with another girl’

How quickly that young man took the phone back in his haste to smooth over any misunderstanding with his girlfriend.

All of Kenneth’s magic is self taught and it is woven seamlessly into his comedy routine including his numbers lesson which draws more interest (pardon the pun) from many student aged observers than a formal maths lesson would. Kenneth’s humour is wrapped in a wry wit that people of all ages can get something from.

Kenneth has had appreciative audiences from all over the world but considers an audience in Queenstown, New Zealand one of the most receptive. One of Kenneth’s favourite places to visit is Switzerland; once again the mountains providing an intoxicating pull. Ironically one of the places Kenneth would like to perform is the place he was born in, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, a dream that was almost realized except for some council red tape that saw a proposed performance there abandoned.

Kenneth may not have been able to perform as the son of his home town as yet but I think most of the people who have seen this amiable and gentle man perform in Tassie would be glad to call him an honoury son of our city.

If you haven’t already caught Kenneth’s act please look out for his performances daily either in the Hobart City mall or at Salamanca Place in differing time allotments(as long as it doesn’t rain) until February when he heads to Vietnam and the Philippines.