Magician/comic Michael Finney and headliner/comedian Louie Anderson perform at Forgotten Harvest's Comedy Night V for Action Against Hunger. SUZANNE CHESSLER SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS M agician and comic Michael Finney stays very closed- mouth about the tricks in his act, but he keeps very open about how Jewish hu- morists taught him to do it all with "chutzpah." The guarded funnyman, often seen on TV's Comic Strip Live and Comedy on the Road, will perform that show biz lesson when he opens for fellow come- dian Louie Anderson in a bene- fit for Forgotten Harvest. Comedy Night V for Action Against Hunger starts at 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 12, at the Music Hall. Proceeds will support the collection of surplus perishable food for distribution to soup kitchens and shelters. "I've opened for Henny Young- man, Marty Allen and many oth- ers, and I picked up on their timing and delivery," said Finney, 42, who has performed at the Comedy Castle in Royal Oak. "When I worked with these en- tertainers, I learned to look around me because that's where the ideas come from. They didn't pick on people; they were the butt of their own jokes. In that way, they taught me how to work off myself. "They knew how to use their intelli- gence and creativi- ty and didn't have to attract attention by being dirty." Finney, who will be sharing the stage with Anderson for the first time, plans to put his emphasis on magic for this event, so his routine will be very differ- ent from Ander- son's. "I start off with a few minutes of standup to develop rapport with the au- dience and then go into the magic," he explained. "The tricks pretty much are there, but I try to make them fun- ny and enjoyable for everybody. "At one point, I bring up a lady from the audience to help me with a rope trick, and at another time, I bring up a man to help me with a mon- ey and card trick." Finney got his show business start while he was a bartender. He noticed that another bar- tender got a lot of laughs and some pretty good tips while do- ing magic tricks for the cus- and beverage business, which instills him with a special appreciation for Forgotten Harvest. His brother is a chef, and his sister is a hotel catering director. "There's so much food that's left over at the end of any night, and it can't be served the next day," he said. "But it is good for a short time period, so why not give it away? "It takes a lot of effort at the end of a busy night to organize the food and then package it up, but there are so many people Michael Finney will open for who need those meals." headliner Louie Anderson (inset) at Finney and his wife, Forgotten Harvest's Comedy Night V. Lori, his agent and man- tomers. ager, have a special appreciation "I began hounding for Detroit. They enjoy the Mo- him to teach me how to town sounds and recently made do magic, and he did," a point of seeing the Temptations Finney recalled. `Then and the Four Tops when they en- I found a magic shop, tertained in Phoenix, their own got an instructor and took lessons. My first job was in Las Vegas Michael Finney will entertain in 1980. People saw at 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 12, me and gave me at Detroit's Music Hall. For work." information, call (810) 350- Finney, who had his own FOOD (3663). Tickets are nightclub for a while, comes from priced $25 and up. a family that works in the food This Week's Best Bets The Hunchback of Notre Dame Wilderness Adventure Day The silent film classic starring Lon Chaney is presented by Stagecrafters complete with or- gan accompaniment. Baldwin Theatre, Lafayette, Royal Oak. (810) 541-6430. Staff garbed in costumes appro- priate to Michigan 100 years ago lead pioneer activities, includ- ing candle making, ice cream cranking and planting a butter- fly garden. E.L. Johnson Nature Center, Bloomfield Hills. (810) 433-0885. • Fri.-Sat., 8 p.m. Sat., 1-4 p.m. Halloween Soup The Symphony and the Sorcerer A creepy , comical , melodramatic musical, for ages 31/2 and up. The ! The Detroit Symphony Orches- Marquis Theatre, 135 E. Main, tra spins a spooky tale of music Northville. (810) 349-8110. and magic for the whole family. Detroit Symphony Orchestra Hall. (313) 833-3700. Fri., 7:30 p.m.; Sat.-Sun., 2:30 p.m. Sat., 11 a.m. & 2 p.m. Temple Beth-El Concert The Birmingham Bloomfield Symphony Orchestra pre- sents Alexander Zonjic and Ervin Monroe on flute. Tem- ple Beth-El, Bloomfield Hills. (810) 645-BBSO. Sun., 7:30 p.m.