Oct 1

Oct 1 August '25: Weekend at Birdie's with the Marvelous Misfits

One summer a few years ago, I spent almost every Wednesday at a comedy club in North Little Rock called The Joint. I especially loved the weekly improv night, where I never knew what to expect, because the show is made up on the spot. Earlier this year, a couple of magicians named Paul (Prater and Noffsinger) bought The Joint and breathed some new life (and death) into the place. You can’t miss the striking lady skeleton when you walk into what is now called Birdie’s Cabaret Theater & Lounge. Ouija boards and old magic posters line the walls, and all kinds of acts light up the stage—magic & mentalism, drag & burlesque, comedy and vaudeville. On other nights, you may find DnD games, trivia, rock bands, and yes—the same open mic and improv nights I loved about The Joint! It’s a fun place to hang out and see all kinds of local & live entertainment, and I was excited when they asked me to bring some juggling to their Marvelous Misfits Variety Show.

A local show with different kinds of performers is one of my favorite kinds to watch, and it’s always a blast when I get to participate in one. This edition of the Misfits was hosted by Paul Prater, and featured some incredible talent. Arty Dodger brought his vaudeville sideshow & juggling act up from Louisiana; Raven Rose shared her sweet & stunning burlesque, complete with colorful feather boas and lots of glitter; and a few local comedians filled the whole place with laughter (backstage included).

My contribution to the fun was a couple of signature juggling routines with some magic in between. After checking with Arty that he wouldn’t be doing anything similar, I decided to perform tennis balls & cigar boxes, while also trying my hand at some rope tricks and improvisational magic requests from the audience. Kicking it all off was the knife & lemon stunt, one of my favorite ways to get a feel for the crowd at a show like this—one where the front row is just a few feet away, many are under the influence, and they’re not at all afraid to become a part of the act.

Both nights were a blast; the crowds were full of energy and did not disappoint. Warmed up from the hilarious comedians, and full of anticipation for the much sexier act that was up next, they still managed to cheer over the music for the upbeat tennis balls and cigar boxes, and had a lot of fun with the more interactive parts of the act. When I was taking suggestions for what type of magic to do, I got to know some interesting characters pretty quickly. Somehow, two different women (one each night) suggested a magic trick where I pee in a glass bottle, while one man simply requested I perform “lactation” (in fact, he requested it twice). In the back, one of the regulars I had never met gave a comment that I couldn’t even hear over the laughter it sparked around him—when I met him at intermission, his friends caught me up on what had half of the theater rolling. It’s safe to say it was a lively couple of nights, and a lot of people left happier than they came in.

I really enjoyed this summer weekend at Birdie’s. The rowdy, fun-loving Little Rockers (and North Little Rockers) kept us on our toes, and the Marvelous Misfits cast pulled off two one-of-a-kind shows. I love the atmosphere Paul & Paul have built at their theater, and more than anything, I love the diverse talent that can be seen on the stage and hanging out in the audience every weekend. We’re lucky to have a place that promotes and encourages such a wide variety of local, live entertainment.