By Don Mayhew / Fresno Bee staff

Frisco Fred, a genial San Francisco performer who bills himself as "the world's only near-sighted comic-magician-juggler-escape artist and tightrope walker," oozes self-deprecation like Amy Winehouse oozes hungover ennui.

Wry and friendly, Fred wasn't the least bothered by the small (a group of six that swelled to 10) audience that made its way into Spectrum Gallery early Friday evening, when most people were still either working or commuting home. He even made light of the sparse turnout by heading out the door in the middle of the act to accost a passer-by: "Nothing to see here - keep going." (She did.)

Playing for such an intimate group does have its advantages. When someone said, "Wow," as he juggled using Chinese devil sticks, he didn't even slow down to reply, "I know - someone's been practicing."

The card tricks, ball spinning, juggling and other sleights of hand (sorry, no tightropes - where would he have strung them?) all take a back seat to the easy asides, digressions and one-liners. Fred won't blow you away, but he performs every trick so matter-of-factly that kids are charmed and adults might feel as if even they could catch a cue ball in their ear if only they were brave enough to give it a shot.

Playing: 1 p.m. Saturday (March 1) and 3:45 p.m. March 8 at Spectrum Gallery, 608 E. Olive Ave., and at 6:15 p.m. March 8 at Veni Vidi Vici, 1116 N. Fulton St. Cost: $4. Rating: PG.