SANDPOINT — For a winter evening, the Panida Theater will offer unique entertainment when a group of six Inland Northwest magicians performs “Confusium” — a comedy magic and illusions show designed to entertain a variety of viewers at 7 p.m. Feb. 15. 

“For this show, we have a full spectrum of different styles of magic that appeal to all ages,” said illusionist, event organizer and Sandpoint local David DaVinci. “There’s a little something in the show for everybody.”  

DaVinci — known as the Thrillusionist for his expansive visual tricks and penchant for extreme activities like wingsuit flying — will show an act centered on a trained parrot he has refined performing on cruises around the world. 

DaVinci’s use of birds began in high school when he won a magic championship for a performance with doves. He then turned his attention to his family’s pet blue-and-yellow macaw, and after persuading his parents, taught it to do a card trick and eventually integrated it into his act.  

In the years since, he has honed the practice of training and performing with birds; according to DaVinci, readying an animal to reliably comply with an act requires extensive preparation.   

“It's kind of the ultimate test to be able to work with parrots in a show and have them do what we're hoping they do,” he said. 

DaVinci will be joined by family magician Cecil Lewis and sleight of hand master Lam Chan, along with a trio of mentalists: Quentin Scott, Cameron Brow and Nathan Lee. The group first performed the show at Spokane's historic Bing Crosby Theater in November 2024: “It was such a hit, we decided we had to bring it here,” DaVinci said. 

“People think of magic and think you have to go to Hollywood or Las Vegas,” he added. “The reality is, we're bringing that caliber of entertainers to Sandpoint.” 

According to Brow, the show's mentalists each take a unique approach to the craft. Brow said he incorporates elements of hypnotism and focuses on exposing hidden talents participants didn't realize they had. 

“Mind reading as a premise is sort of like taking magic and then applying the things that make magic work to ideas and thoughts," he said. "It's really just a different imagining of traditional magic.” 

Lee, on the other hand, takes a psychological approach. To predict participants' actions and thoughts, he studies almost imperceptible cues in body language and other behaviors, which can appear as mind reading to the untrained eye. 

“The more you study mentalism, the more you develop the ability to catch on to things that other people don't necessarily see," Lee said. "That lets you create the illusion of mind reading, when what you really might be doing is studying different tells that other people might not pick up on.” 

While Lee began as performer of visual magic, he forayed into mentalism from out of a desire to "help other people smile and laugh.” 

"The best way I can do that is by calling them up on stage and interacting with them and having a good time,” Lee said. 

Because of the Panida's historic character and long past as a venue for vaudeville and other performance arts, members of the group expressed excitement for an opportunity to take its stage. 

“It's a phenomenal building,” DaVinci said. “Some of these older historic theaters have so much history, and so many amazing entertainers have come through there.” 

Brow noted that early 20th century venues like the Panida are reminiscent of an era "when magic as a performance art was, in my mind, at its peak.” 

“It's really like stepping back into our own history as magicians, whether we realize it or not, to be in spaces like that,” Brow said. 

Brow also emphasized the importance of seeing illusions in person. Magic tricks seen through a screen, he says, appear less impressive because our minds are accustomed to visual effects in movies and TV shows. 

“When you see magic online or on television, there’s always a distance from it that makes it seem possible,” he said. 

Additionally, the ability to replay a trick on a screen can reveal its mechanisms and destroy the mystery. 

“Illusions are pretty delicate,” Brow said. “The more times you view it, your brain will start to pick apart where the secrets lie." 

In a live performance, there is no slow motion or replay. According to Brow, showings like “Confusium” preserve the wonder and show audiences magic the way it's best enjoyed. 

“When you're in a theater watching it with the ambience, the lights and the sound, it's a totally different experience,” Brow said. “You get to live with that mystery, which I think is important.”