Wednesday, December 03, 2008

Poof.....it's Magic!

One of the most interesting things that I’ve ever gotten to experience while I was in the theater, was to work as a magicians assistant in several stage illusions.

One of my good friends, who is currently an actor/director in the theater, was married to a brilliant magician who’s specialty was slight-of-hand. For those of you who may not be familiar with this type of magic, slight-of-hand involves close-up magic (using playing cards or objects). Usually the magician is performing only a few inches away from the audience, which is mind-blowing to watch, because you can‘t believe your eyes.

Anyway, I was living in Florida at the time, when the Orlando Magic basketball team had just been formed. My friends' husband and his business partner put together a few illusions to use during the games’ half-time show. They called themselves Orlando Magic. Not only did they perform stage illusions for the basketball team, but they also did conventions and special events.

I was asked to be in these illusions, because they wanted their assistant to pose as a basketball referee. And it was so neat, because the costume they put together made me look like one.

Now please understand that I’m sworn to “magician secrecy” and cannot divulge HOW these illusions were actually performed.

(because if I do…a bolt of lightening will hit me and my penis will fall off)

However, I CAN tell you that stage illusion magic is all about speed, dexterity, and a lot of practice. The first time I performed in front of an live audience I was scared shitless, because I knew that if any of my timing was off, the illusion would be shot.

One of the coolest illusions that I performed during a convention was called “The Sub Trunk.”

For this trick, I was placed in a large canvas bag with my hands tied behind my back. The bag was then tied at the top with a thick rope. I was then placed into a large wooden trunk, which the lid was then closed and secured with a long steel chain, and then locked.

This illusion was one in which I had to move at such incredible speed, yet at the same time remain calm, because if I panicked in anyway…everything would have tighten up on me and I would not have been able to remove myself from the rope and bag.

In this illusion, the magic takes place within seconds....

While I’m in the trunk, the magician is standing on top of the trunk holding a curtain in front of him. And on the count of three, he drops the curtain…

…and I end up in HIS place, as he comes walking in…from the BACK of the audience.

Ta, da!

OK...just call me David Copperfield.