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Kent Wong Inner circle Edmonton, Alberta, Canada 2458 Posts |
I know this is more of an illusionette rather than a Grand Illusion, but I didn't know where else to post this topic. I've been thinking of replacing my old Dagger Head Chest with the Arrowhead Illusion, but I thought I should get some feedback from my friends here on the Café before proceeding.
Here's what I have in mind. My show involves an ongoing "friendly rivalry" between me and my assistant. She keeps wanting to show me a new illusion she created, but I keep putting her off in a somewhat dismissive manner. Finally, I relent and agree to become her assistant for the illusion. At this time, she also says she needs a volunteer from the audience and so, we call one up to the stage to assist. She presents a box with a myriad of holes in it. I immediately show disappointment, indicating that this has been done before. It's the illusion where she sticks a bunch of fake knives in the box. There's no chance in the world that the volunteer is going to get hurt. Nope, she says. She's taken it a few steps further. She shows me a giant archery target, supported on a stand. Then she takes out a giant crossbow and fires and arrow into the target from across the stage. I look at her in utter shock, yelling out, "Are you crazy? You're going to kill someone with that thing!". Again she says, Nope. According to her lawyers, she can't be held responsible if an audience member shoots the arrows. As she says this, she gives the crossbow to the volunteer. Now I look confused. I ask, if the volunteer is shooting the arrow, who is going to be in the box? She smiles at me menacingly and places the box over my head. I'm screaming all the while as she does so and she positions me in front of the target. She goes back to the volunteer and whispers something in the volunteer's ear. The volunteer raises the cross bow "pretends" to shoot the arrows at my head. As she does so, the assistant/magican acts out a series of manacing voice overs as if the volunteer is shooting real arrows at me. I, of course, react accordingly. I'm twisting and turning, trying to avoid arrows I can't even see. As I do so, the assistant/magician silently approaches me with a bunch of arrows in hand and physically thrusts them through the holes in the box. Finally, when all of the arrows have been shoved in the box, the doors are opened to show my head has vanished. The assistant and the volunteer receive their applause and the volunteer returns to the audience. As muffled screams start coming from the box, the assistant realizes that the arrows have not been removed. She says she's probably somehow obligated to at least "try" to save me. She then removes the arrows and the box to show my head restored. This generates a second round of applause. So what do you think? Will it work? Comments? Criticisms? Suggestions? Kent
"Believing is Seeing"
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magicofCurtis Inner circle Los Angeles 2545 Posts |
Cute routine...
Curtis Lovell II
http://www.CurtisLovell.com http://www.MagicofCurtis.com www.facebook.com/curtislovellii Los Angeles, California - U.S.A. |
Dennis Online New user Ohio 42 Posts |
Sounds like over-acting to me. "I'm screaming all the while as she does so and she positions me in front of the target."
Screaming ? I don't think any routine should be used that includes "forcing" someone to do something, even if it is an act. Using an element of danger has been a part of magic for a long time. BUT - to introduce an element of cruelty and it ceases to be entertainment. Mark Wilson cut his wife in half, shot a volunteer from a cannon and more, but never was it implied in the least that the volunteer was unwilling. Assistants and volunteers should appear willing. Maybe nervous or skeptical, but not unwilling. I'm not trying to be mean or hyper-critical, I just would not enjoy seeing or performing a routine like the above described. The effect is fine, a nice scenario is painted with the use of a real arrow-shooting device and volunteer. Assistant's revenge is always enjoyable, but nice it up a little. God bless.
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Destiny Inner circle 1429 Posts |
There's more cruelty in the average kids cartoon - the audience know it is a joke and that the magician is 'in' on it. I think it's a funny melodrama and hope you went ahead with it.
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Spellbinder Inner circle The Holy City of East Orange, NJ 6438 Posts |
If your head has vanished, how can you scream? The box should go completely silent if you insist on showing the vanished head part, OR open the door and the head is gone--- silence--- close the door and the screaming resumes, as if somehow opening and closing the door makes your head appear or disappear (kind of like the light bulb in the refrigerator).
Professor Spellbinder
Professor Emeritus at the Turkey Buzzard Academy of Magik, Witchcraft and Wizardry http://www.magicnook.com Publisher of The Wizards' Journals |
Destiny Inner circle 1429 Posts |
This is why you're a Professor, Spellbinder - that is brilliant!
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chmara Inner circle Tucson, AZ 1911 Posts |
The removal of the arros is always problematical. After all the trick is over -- and even the assistant's rescue of you will take time. Adding a second applause cue when you get out of the box is something to consider.
I think the idea of a crossbow on stage is good thinking -- but it sounds as if you are going for comedy -- amd MAYBE your assistnt should come on with the arrows and a little orange colored plastic kids bow -- (Toys are us?) allowing you to demonstrate the darn thing cannot work -- dropping arrows. etc/ ("don't shoot your foot") A line for getting in the box "I thought William Tell (Robin Hood) got his start by holding the bow -- not the box.)
Gregg (C. H. Mara) Chmara
Commercial Operations, LLC Tucson, AZ C. H. Mara Illusion & Psychic Entertainments |
Julie Inner circle 3936 Posts |
Hello Kent
I think the "slapstick" tone of the routine is great! Maybe your assistant could have one of those comedy arrows with the curved wire that looks like it's going through your head concealed on her person> when she stands in front of you momentarily to lift off the box you put the arrow-thu-head on and when she steps away that's your kicker komedy finish...what do you think? Julie |
Spellbinder Inner circle The Holy City of East Orange, NJ 6438 Posts |
I like that finish, Julie! As for removing the arrows from the box, how about having them all fly out at once (except for Julie's clever arrow through head, of course). The performer finally gets control of himself, straightens up, begins to shiver and shake and then shouts "Expellaramus!" or something Potterish like that. Of course, it would take a lot of threads to yank out all those arrows, but the effect would be hilarious, I think.
Alternatively, you could go the Jack Hughes Clatter Box route and make an Arrowhead box that flies into pieces. I'm sure Jim Gerrish could design one made from hardboard and duct tape that would be just dandy. Posted: Oct 22, 2006 9:51pm -------------------------------------------- One more thought and then I'll quit. This could be elevated to the Grand Illusion category by ending with the "Arrow Through Girl" Illusion, except in this case it would be the "Arrow Through Boy" and you'd be the boy. It's really just a ribbon through body, but your assistant could take the crossbow from the spectator at the end, and it "accidentally" goes off in your direction, sending the ribbon flying through your body into the target behind you. I think Abbotts used to make this one.
Professor Spellbinder
Professor Emeritus at the Turkey Buzzard Academy of Magik, Witchcraft and Wizardry http://www.magicnook.com Publisher of The Wizards' Journals |
Kent Wong Inner circle Edmonton, Alberta, Canada 2458 Posts |
WOW!! Thanks for all the ideas and suggestions. This thread has really turned into a wealth of information for me and I'll definitely be putting it all to good use. I love the idea with the toy bow and arrow as well as Julie's idea with the fake arrow through head. I know the whole bit seems way over the top, but that is the type of mayhem I develop throughout my show.
The overacting eliminates all of the suspense and fear (that people don't tend to believe anyways) and replaces it with comedy and laughte. So far, this type of approach has worked well for me in many of my other routines (ie. guillotine, levitation and the dagger head chest). Once again, thanks for all of your great ideas! Kent
"Believing is Seeing"
<BR>______________________ <BR> <BR>www.kentwongmagic.com |
JamesinLA Inner circle Los Angeles 3400 Posts |
I like your ideas a lot.
Jim
Oh, my friend we're older but no wiser, for in our hearts the dreams are still the same...
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Acecardician Inner circle New Orleans 1390 Posts |
Follow up, I just read this thread, (I'm a little behind).
Did you get this and are you doing it? I bought an Arrow Head in the 70's and used it for years. I love your routine. Sounds like something I wanted to do but never got around to. I was a teenager and never really on a big stage or assistants at the time. I think I bought mine for under $50.00 at the time. I sold it in the 90's for $100.00 I know it is probably over $200.00 now. I which I would have kept mine. ACE
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Alan Munro Inner circle Kentwood, Michigan, USA 5952 Posts |
Arrowhead is a nice effect, but I haven't seen one that looks nice since a friend was making some covered in formica with star shaped plaques glued to it. The Abbott's version isn't something that I could put into my show, because it looks cheesy.
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Acecardician Inner circle New Orleans 1390 Posts |
The Arrowhead I had from Abbott's was covered with cloth. Everyone I've seen was different, so I guess they used whatever cloth was laying around at the time. The problem was the instructions were not clear. It just said, put the arrows in at an angle. As a teenager with little experience, I stuck my little sister in the ear many times. It is not like the dagger chest I saw at the time, there was only one place for each dagger to go. I had to practice and invent where each arrow had to go, and wedge them into places so they wouldn't fall out, and it was important to hide each tip into the one of the 8 corners of the box. It did not look good with the tips of the arrows showing. I did have it down pat pretty good, but occasionally I would nick my little sisters ear again, and get in trouble with mom. lol
ACE
My Chinese Stick Collection: https://app.photobucket.com/u/ChineseSticks?sort=6
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kendavis Regular user 182 Posts |
Sorry for the late reply. The Abbott's Arrow Head has some positive aspects. I have two Abbotts Arrow Head Boxes. The nice thing is that the illusion is assembled on the assistants head. First the bottom, then the sides (making it evident that you are not using any mirrors, flaps, etc.) and finally the top is placed on the assistant. If you are using Abbotts Box, you can build up additional suspense while it is being assembled. I always found that it played extremely well by itself but you proposed lead-in sounds nice especially if you can condense the presentation time.
I remade both boxes. Repainted the top with a different design in order to hide the string, redesigned the gimmick, and enlarged the entry hole so that I could also use short spears with handles. I use the spears in a mid evil presentation. I am in the process of gluing a sparkle laminate on the cloth sides to give it a more classy look. Good luck. |
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