Canadian comedian and ventriloquist performing at the Alaska State Fair

PALMER — Canadian comedian and ventriloquist Michael Harrison is performing at the Alaska State Fair daily until the final day of the season, Monday, Sept. 4.

Harrison was welcomed by an enthusiastic crowd during his first appearance at the Fair Thursday, Aug. 31.

“We had a great crowd and a great response from the kids,” Harrison said.

Harrison’s performances can be seen at the Bluebonnet Stage at various times throughout the day. During his act, Harrison banters with various props that he designed such as a tennis ball, a tennis racket, and a vulture.

During the middle of the act, he pulls an audience member in for a magic trick, making a brightly colored handkerchief disappear and reappear from their person. Harrison sells signed instructional DVDs on how to learn ventriloquism after each show for $10.

“I may be not the ventriloquist of your dreams but the one in your price range,” Harrison said to the crowd.

This is the third time Harrison has appeared at the Alaska State Fair. He said that his first appearance was in 2010 and the second time was in 2013. He said that Alaska reminds him a lot of his home, British Columbia.

“I always enjoy coming to this. It's one of the better fairs I've ever done," Harrison said. “I feel like I'm at home here.”

Harrison said that he draws inspiration from his great-grandfather, Frank Merryfield who was a vaudeville ventriloquist, magician, firefighter, and a feather-weight boxing champion.

“He knew many famous magicians back in the day. He traveled and had his own shows. He had a really interesting life… He did all sorts of things. Either he was the master of a lot of skills, or he couldn't keep a job,” Harrison said with a laugh.

Harrison said that he started performing magic for children’s birthday parties at the age of 10 and started practicing ventriloquism around the same time. He said that practicing magic and ventriloquism helped him grow socially and it became a passion that’s only grown stronger over the years. He refined his craft over time to develop his own style and sense of showmanship.

“I was a shy introverted kid so it was like this little window or door opened I thought, ‘this is great what else can I do to impress people?’ So I said, ‘oh, I'll get a ventriloquism book, then I got a juggling book, and how to ride a unicycle. I'm the master of useless skills basically,” Harrison said with a laugh. “I like it's uniqueness. I think there's a little escapism in it, just taking something that's very simple like that tennis ball that I do and all of a sudden it has a personality and people are like, ‘aww, it's so cute’ and they get sad when it gets sad you just take people on this crazy little journey and they forget these things aren't real.”

Harrison’s unique career has taken him to exciting places such as competing in season three of “America's Got Talent,” and even writing and starring in an award-winning television show, “Kids in the Firehall.”

“It is just a dream job for somebody like me,” Harrison said. “You know what they say, ‘if you love what you do then it's not a job.”

For more information about Michael Harrison, visit funnyguy.ca.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman reporter Jacob Mann at jacob.mann@frontiersman.com