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magic puppet can be
used
Abraca-chicken! Trick
Effect:
The magician apologizes to the audience -- he forgot the
magic rope for his rope trick. BUT, luckily he had chicken for lunch,
so he'll use a chicken bone, say a magic word and turn it into a rope with a
knot in it.
The magician shows the audience the magic box inside and
out (er, a Kentucky Fried Chicken box would work well). He can also let
them examine the chicken bone (if he's comfortable that no one will break it).
The magician places a chicken bone into a magic box.
He says abracadabra but nothing happens. He considers for a moment
(consults his magic puppet or assistant if he has one) and realizes he should
have said Alaka-chicken.
He places the bone into the box again. He reminds
the audience to help him remember the correct magic word. He waves his
magic wand over the box and says Abraca-chicken!
Oh no! (either the assistant or the magic puppet or
the audience can point out that he's used the wrong magic word again).
What can it mean? What happened? The magician
looks nervous and tells the audience that Abraca-chicken is a very advanced
magic word... he wasn't ready for magic that advanced.
The magician reaches into the magic box and pulls out a
chicken bone with a knot into it. (remember, it was supposed to turn into
a rope with a knot in it).
Supplies:
- two magic boxes that are identical
- main work table covered in a table cloth
- OPTIONAL: handkerchief and magic wand
- lower table in front of the work table that only the
magician can see
- two identical thin chicken bones
- vinegar
Secret:
BEFORE THE TRICK:
This trick is half science.
Drop one of the chicken bones into the vinegar. Make
sure it's totally immersed. Leave it there for a day. (you will
notice it bubbling). When calcium carbonate (in the bone) and acetic acid (the vinegar) combine, a chemical reaction takes place and
carbon dioxide (a gas) is released. This is what the bubbles are made of.
The bone will now be like a piece of string. Tie it
in a knot. Leave it sit on the table for another day. Carbon dioxide
from the air will re-enter the bone making it hard again.
Put the knotted bone inside one of the magic boxes.
Leave the other one empty, set them both on the low table that no one but the
magician can see.
DURING THE TRICK:
Note: If using a handkerchief, fiddle around with it
a lot to make the audience think it has something to do with the magic.
Take the empty magic box and put it on the table.
Let everyone see that it's empty. Place the chicken bone in the box.
Cover with a handkerchief (optional). Wave your magic wand over it and say
Abracadabra. Remove the handkerchief, pull out the bone and look very
disappointed.
When you're revealing that nothing happened, look
embarrassed and quickly put everything back on the table. Make sure you
put the box as close as possible to the other box.
Make it look like you're getting ready for / starting to
explain the next trick. Then have your assistant or magic puppet remind
you that you used the wrong magic word. (or remember yourself).
Look very excited and start repeating the correct magic
word ALAKA-CHICKEN to yourself. Moving quickly like you're excited
to get going again, put the bone back in the empty box WHILE IT'S STILL ON THE
LOW TABLE.
Now turn to the audience and ask them to help you remember
the new magic word.
Pick up the box with the knotted bone inside. Cover
with a handkerchief. Wave the wand and say ABRACA-CHICKEN.
In all the excitement and confusion the audience should
miss the fact that you switched boxes.
Realize that you've said the wrong word again (with the
audience's/magic puppet/assistant's help). Look nervous -- it's an
advanced magic word *gulp*. Remove the handkerchief. Reach in and
pull out the chicken bone with a knot in it.
(you can say something like: The bad news is that it
didn't turn into a rope. The good news is that it does have a knot in it).
You can give it to the audience to look at.
MAGIC!
The thing I really like about this trick is that even
if they do figure out you switched boxes they'll be hard pressed to sort out
how you tied a knot in a chicken bone *grin*
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