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Comedy Illusionist Greg Wood will be part of the Magic Club of Winnipeg’s Family Day of Magic on May 16 at the Winnipeg Art Gallery. (SUBMITTED)

One of the most frequently asked questions that comedy illusionist Greg Wood gets from audience members is how he does his tricks.

"My answer is that I did it very well," says Wood, who lives in Minto and works at Toad Hall Toys.

Wood admits there is no greater satisfaction than seeing the puzzled looks on the faces of audience members when he performs. It’s the best indication that he has done his job well.

"I love to bend brains, there’s nothing better," he says.

Wood, 52, will be bringing his comedy and magic stylings to the Magic Club of Winnipeg’s Family Day of Magic on May 16 at the Winnipeg Art Gallery.

The club has approximately 50 members who participate in meetings and workshops on a monthly basis from September to June.

Wood, who is a member of the MCW, will be emceeing the event that will feature some of the city’s top magicians including Darcy Oake and Chris Funk and juggler Robin Chestnut.

Club co-president Anders Boulanger says part of the proceeds from the event will go to Scouts Canada to assist with a home building project in Vicente Guerrero, Mexico next year.

Boulanger says supporting the initiative seemed like a natural fit for magicians.

"We really like the idea of making houses appear," says Boulanger, who lives in St. Boniface.

Jean-Marc Hache, 16, is in the Scout’s Venturer Company that will travel to Mexico next July to build two houses in 14 days.

The amateur magician says he loves seeing the astonished looks on people’s faces after completing a trick. He expects to see the same kind of reaction from the families who will move into the houses they are building.

Hache, who lives in East St. Paul, says the funds raised for the Scouts at the event will go towards travel and building material costs.

The event holds a special place in Wood’s heart because the former Cub Scout leader was inspired to try slight-of-hand after seeing a magician at a Cubs meeting.

He slowly began building a repertoire and eventually left a career as a land surveyor to pursue magic full time.

"I was involved with them (the Scouts) for more than 15 years and it’s a great training ground," Wood says.

"Now they’re using those talents to actually help somebody else in Mexico by taking corrugated metal shacks and making them into homes, and I think that’s very cool."

Boulanger says the event is an opportunity to not only help a good cause but to learn more about the storied history of Winnipeg magicians, which includes Doug Henning, Dean Gunnarson and Brian Glow.

The Magic Club of Winnipeg’s Family Day of Magic will take place on May 16 at the Winnipeg Art Gallery with shows at 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.

Tickets are $10 each or a family-five pack for $40, and available by calling Carey at 772-8837.

trevor.suffield@canstarnews.com