Gavin Wilson performs with John Smith and the Shananigans during the production of "Life, Love, and Music" at the Egyptian Theatre Thursday night in DeKalb. Chronicle photo HOLLY LUNDH

A review by Rob Carroll - Staff Writer

By the end of Thursday night, Gavin Wilson had to have been a tired man.

Wilson produced and starred in "Life, Love, and Music," a benefit show at the Egyptian Theatre to benefit the theater.

In the span of a little more than two hours, an audience of about 200 saw Gavin Wilson the singer, Gavin Wilson the magician, Gavin Wilson the actor, Gavin Wilson the musician and Gavin Wilson the ventriloquist.

Somehow Wilson seamlessly worked all of these talents into one show.

The first act of the production had Wilson falling in love with a woman on a street.

Wilson and Barb McCaskey sang some duets after each performed solo.

The songs, which were played by John Smith and the Shananigans, were taken from various musicals.

Wilson expertly intertwined songs to tell the story of two people falling in love.

There was nothing elaborate about the stage set. The actors shared the stage with the 17-member band. Wilson and the band members were dressed in tuxedos.

"Can you feel it?" Wilson asked about halfway through the first act. "There's magic in the air."

He then came off the stage to sing "Witchcraft." In between verses, Wilson did a magic trick in which he pulled handkerchiefs out of his mouth.

After surprising the audience by combining singing with a trick, Wilson showed even more magical talent.

Before the end of the first act, Wilson did some comedic ventriloquism with a stuffed rabbit.

Even though the jokes were somewhat stale, the crowd still laughed. Wilson's interaction with his counterpart made the jokes hilarious.

The duo later sang "Hello Dolly." While controlling the rabbit and also singing his own words, WIlson still found a way to play trumpet on the song as well. This was the high point for displays of Wilson's talent.

The second act was more about the music. Wilson incorporated his father, Gordon, and two sons, Holden and Adam, into the act as well.

Wilson did not disappoint with his magic and ventriloquism in the first half of the show, but he should have added some of these elements in the second.

The Shananigans played song after song without much of a pause to reflect on what was happening.

Wilson was able to draw the most laughs when he joined his father for a version of "Anything You Can Do" from "Annie Get Your Gun."

After the comedy, Wilson and his father transitioned into some touching moments with a performance of Harry Chapin's "Cat's in the Cradle."

Their chemistry was sincere and natural, as it should be for a father and son. Their relationship seemed much more true than the one Wilson shared with his female co-star in the first act.

Before ending the show, Wilson urged the crowd, which was predominately senior citizens, to take a piece of the show home with them.

Wilson's love for music and life was put on display last night. I think his passion may have rekindled the same kinds of feelings among the audience.

Rob Carroll can be reached at rcarroll@pulitzer.net.

Wilson puts love on display

A review by Rob Carroll - Staff Writer