Rick Faraci can hammer 50 nails in 48 seconds using only his hands.
The feat, which Faraci displayed for producers of Canada’s Got Talent in Vancouver yesterday, is just part of his Tameshiwari act, or as he calls it, “the art of breaking stuff.”
Faraci, who was wearing a green-stone necklace to honour his wife’s Maori heritage, said he was encouraged by her to audition for the upcoming televised variety show.
With Faraci’s wife undergoing cancer therapy, he thought auditioning for Canada’s Got Talent would be a fun way to celebrate the sport that introduced him to his wife.
“The show is a brilliant way to showcase Canadian talent,” said Faraci, who was excited to be a part of the buzz. “We very rarely stimulate and promote our own and here we get such a variety.”
Vancouver is the third city of six to hold auditions in the nationwide tour, which continue today at the Westin Bayshore.
Executive producer Ed Robinson said he was excited to be in Vancouver, which is always a source for new talent.
Robinson has worked on reality TV for years on shows such as Canadian Idol, but said there was a special component to the variety talent show.
“You learn how important the show is to people,” he said. “For so many people the show is a way to express themselves that (they) wouldn’t normally get. It takes a great deal of courage.”
For auditions, Robinson said he most looks forward to unusual acts, whatever they may be.
“The imagination of people is what we’re hoping this show will capture,” he said.
Brother-sister musical-theatre duo David and Sasha Moriarty-Schieven were among hundreds of contestants lined up at the Westin Bayshore, vying to make the cut for the final $ 100,000 prize and debut in an un-named Las Vegas venue.
“If we made it, it would be the fulfilment of a lifelong dream. We’ve found success in our own ways but this would be a whole new level of awesome,” said Sasha.
Local news from metronews.ca/vancouver
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