People chatted and laughed over plates of spaghetti and meatballs at a fundraiser for the Wareham Fireman’s Association before a performance by Méliès, a magician, performed for the crowd.

“People don’t want to come out just for spaghetti and meatballs so you want to make it special and fun,” said Firemen’s Association Vice President Howard A. Smith. “It's a great event and I am very happy to see people enjoying it.”

Magician John Sanbonmatsu, who performs under the stage name of Méliès, had performed for the WGBH Downton Abbey Series Finale Gala in the past and received the Best Magician in Boston Award. 

Méliès specializes in “living room” magic for adults and older children, creating what his website calls a “stunning evening of live magical theater in your home.” 

“This is the first time I have ever performed for Firefighters. I’ve always admired your occupation,” said Méliès. “Magic is performance art and has been in culture for literally thousands of years. In ancient Athens, twenty-five hundred years ago, you would have seen street magicians performing some things that I am going to be doing tonight.”

With a sleight of hand, Méliès retrieved a bottle of Chardonnay from an inflated balloon, disappeared a Coca-Cola bottle in paper bags, and froze a coin in a block of solid ice within seconds. All his tricks were accompanied by witty humor and irony. 

Prior to the magician’s arrival, guests enjoyed a hot meal and met new people along the way.

“I love coming to this kind of event,” said one of the guests, Amy Wilson of Carver. “I am sitting here, enjoying dinner, talking to my sis, while contributing to a good cause. I love it!”

All proceeds support the scholarship fund of the Wareham Firemen’s Association.

Anyone who could not attend Saturday's event but wishes to send a donation can do so by calling Howie Smith at 508-295-4679 or Missy Bourne at 508-295-6534.