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PVC Pipe & Dollar Store Illusions – Book 3 Item # 5 – Assistant’s Revenge

PVC Pipe and Dollar Store Illusions for the REALLY, REALLY CHEAP Illusionist! by Jim Gerrish

Book 3 Contents: 1 Puppet Show Illusion ………………………… page 2 PVC Table Assistant ………………………… page 3 PVC Levitations? ……………………………. page 4 Hula Hoop Tambourine Illusion …………….. page 5 Assistant’s Revenge Illusion ………………… page 6 Black Art Background Illusion ………………. page 7 Nest of Boxes Illusion …………………….….. page 8 Cage Sub “Trunk” Illusion ……………….…. page 9 Spirit Cabinet Illusion ………………………... page 10 Merlyn’s Throne ……………………………. page Descriptions of Effects …………………………. page

2 19 30 42 50 58 67 73 81 93 99

Any Questions? Your purchase of this book entitles you to ask questions about any aspect of the effects it contains. E-mail Professor Spellbinder at [email protected] from the same e-mail address from which you purchased the Book.

© 2005, www.magicnook.com

PVC Pipe & Dollar Store Illusions – Book 3 Item # 5 – Assistant’s Revenge

Assistant’s Revenge Illusion by Jim Gerrish

The Assistant's Revenge Illusion is ideal for rendering in PVC pipe, but you can't get too rough with it. However, after working with the PVC version for awhile, you might get inspired to rebuild the parts that need strengthening in wood or metal. Effect: The Illusionist displays a frame of ropes and straps mounted on a plywood base and surmounted by a Hula Hoop Curtain rig. He grabs his lovely assistant and ties her wrists and ankles to the edges of the frame, then passes webbing over her body, strapping her in securely and fastening the ends of the straps with padlocks. Now the Illusionist draws the curtain around the back of the Illusion and then around the front. Immediately, the assistant walks around from behind the Illusion, opening the back curtain and then opening the front curtain. We see that in less time than it took to tie her up, she has not only escaped, but now the helpless Illusionist is tied and strapped in her place. The Assistant finally gets her revenge!

PVC Pipe & Dollar Store Illusions – Book 3 Item # 5 – Assistant’s Revenge

There are two basic structures on the plywood platform. The platform itself is made of 1 inch thick plywood and mounted on low casters. During the walkarounds, both the Illusionist and the Assistant walk on the outside, on the floor, rather than on the platform, which would make it "tippy." Therefore the plywood circle base is just large enough to contain the Illusion, with perhaps an inch or so sticking out from beneath the curtains when they are closed. Both PVC structures are mounted to the plywood base with flanges. The outer structure consists of two 1 inch diameter (or larger) poles which can be simply screwed in the flanges in the base. The tops of these poles have a cut-out section where the Hula Hoop will be placed. If

PVC Pipe & Dollar Store Illusions – Book 3 Item # 5 – Assistant’s Revenge

you have difficulty getting a Dollar Store Hula Hoop to fit, we'll forgive you if you make your own from Flexible PVC pipe. (http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/category.asp?catalog%5Fname=USPlastic&category%5Fname=5 1&Page=1 )

You can also follow Brooks Owen's directions for curving stiff PVC pipe using a hot air blower and sand. (http://www.pvcworkshop.com/bendpipe.htm )

No matter how you make it or get it, the top ring is bolted to the pipe stands as shown in the cut-out. You may also wish to add another pipe stand or two to help support the curtain ring. We'll leave that up to you. The lightweight plastic or nylon curtains are attached with ordinary shower curtain rings, one curtain for the front, and one for the back. The inner structure is actually made of two almost identical frames. The front frame is as shown. It has 90 degree corner fittings at the top corners (red) and TEE fittings (green) that screw into a flange at the base. The part you can't see is the hidden frame directly behind the one in the diagram. It is not mounted to the base and has 90 degree corner fittings all around. It is hinged on the right side as we look at the diagram. The hinge can be as simple as duct tape, or as fancy as you want to get (but you run the risk of being turned out of the Cheap Illusionist category if you get TOO fancy!). There are three sets of fastenings. Ropes for the wrists, ropes for the ankles, and plastic web straps with buckles and padlocks (shown in blue). We'll start with

PVC Pipe & Dollar Store Illusions – Book 3 Item # 5 – Assistant’s Revenge

the most complex, the web straps. The straps appear to go all around the outside of the frame, but do not. The ends of the straps are riveted to both the front and back frames on the left so that the two frames can continue to open and close like a door even when the webs are strapped and locked.

The top view of this door-like frame explains it best. The blue strap is riveted (green) at left only on the outside of the frames. On the right side, the straps are riveted separately on both the front side and the backside of the door-like frame so that it can open and close easily. The front side shows the big metal buckle (red) and two large metal grommets through which padlocks will hang (in orange). This is the same for each of the three straps. One strap should fit just below your assistant's neck, one at her waist, and one about knee high.

PVC Pipe & Dollar Store Illusions – Book 3 Item # 5 – Assistant’s Revenge

Velcro® glued on the edges of the PVC pipe where it opens and closes helps to keep both frames tightly together. So you can see, the straps won't do a thing to lock your assistant in place. All she has to do is open the door and she is free. Now let's look at the ropes. Both sets of ropes are made from Magician's rope, just because it is easy to work with and tie, but it also has some other properties useful for this Illusion.

The wrist ropes are each made from a single rope, knotted at the middle as shown. The knot pushes into the 1/4 inch hole drilled into the front PVC pipe frame at the top, so that the two ends hang loose. Your assistant puts her hand up against the frame and you tie the two ends around her wrist, apparently tightly (just don't cut off the circulation!). All she has to do to get out is pull on the rope and the knot will pop out of the hole in the PVC pipe. The extra slack makes it easy for

PVC Pipe & Dollar Store Illusions – Book 3 Item # 5 – Assistant’s Revenge

her to pull the ropes from her wrist and tuck them in her pocket before she begins to walk around the outside of the cabinet. The ankle ropes are two separate lengths of rope, each with a knot at the end. Both knots are pushed through the hole in the forward PVC pipe frame at the bottom. You tie the ends that hang outside the holes securely around her ankles, but all she has to do is pull her legs back and the ropes will pop out. Since they are separate, they will simply fall to the floor and there is no need to call attention to them. If you don't point them out, I won't. Presenting the Assistant's Revenge Illusion: The cabinet is rolled out, curtains opened, and the assistant is brought out for her "punishment." The straps are hanging loose from the center frame with the padlocks already through one grommet in each strap. The ropes are hanging loose top and bottom. The assistant is first tied with the ropes, her wrists first and then her ankles. Then the webs are buckled in front of her and the padlock, which was removed to work the strap through the buckle, is pushed through both metal grommets to lock the strap in place. When she is locked inside the inner frame, the Illusionist draws the back curtain closed, and then draws the front curtain closed left to right. As soon as she is out of sight, the assistant pulls her wrist ropes and her ankle ropes free of the frame (without making the whole platform shake, please!). Then she opens the door

PVC Pipe & Dollar Store Illusions – Book 3 Item # 5 – Assistant’s Revenge

of the frame to her right. She steps out and behind the back curtain of the cabinet as you enter the cabinet and step in between the frames. Close the door and the straps enclose you just as they did her. But those ropes! What about the ropes? That's easy. Around your wrists but pushed back up to they are concealed by your sleeve cuffs, you already have ropes tied around your wrists! All you need to do is slap the backs of your wrists against the top section of the pipes where the empty wrist hole is, and it will appear that you are securely tied to the frame, just as your assistant was moments ago. Put your legs against the bottoms of the frames and don't worry about the ankle ropes. Your trouser legs would hide them from view anyway. Just pretend you are tied at the ankles. The audience can see the wrist ties and the straps and will just assume the rest. Your assistant opens the back curtain from left to right, and then comes across the front of the cabinet to draw the front curtain back from left to right, showing you locked in place. After she laughs at you and perhaps cracks a whip, she begins by untying your ankles. In other words, she gets down on one knee, finds the ropes she left on the plywood floor and pretends to untie you, hiding the action with her body. Then, working her way from bottom to top, she unlocks the bottom padlock and releases the bottom strap, then the middle, then the top. Finally, taking her time, she unties your wrists quite openly, showing that you are really tied, but as soon as

PVC Pipe & Dollar Store Illusions – Book 3 Item # 5 – Assistant’s Revenge

your hand is free, she grabs the rope and apparently pulls it free of the frame to whip you with. Then she unties the last wrist and again gives you a playful lashing. Where you go from there is up to you. The original Assistant's Revenge Illusion was invented by Robert Harbin. Although the effect is the same as this PVC pipe version, this otherwise bears little resemblance to the original. JG

PVC Pipe & Dollar Store Illusions – Book 3 Item # 5 – Assistant’s Revenge

PVC Pipe and Dollar Store Illusions for the REALLY, REALLY CHEAP Illusionist!

by Jim Gerrish

Book 3

1 Puppet Show Illusion

A "Greeter Doll" from K-Mart is transformed into a living puppet, and then grows into a real person. Our comedy Illusion centers on "Elmer the Elf" for Christmas, but would easily adapt to other puppets, uses and designs. Both designs (Fireplace version & Puppet Theatre version) are included.

2 PVC Table Assistant

Your magic table can be your best friend and assistant when all of these suggested contraptions are built into it. Features the instantaneous vanishing silk/flower bouquet and a whole lot more.

3 PVC Levitations?

Yes! PVC works for the Comedy Levitation just as it is, but we also include a Levitation Template for making more solid versions from cast iron, and include plans for my original New Witch's Broom Levitation... no, it's NOT that old one!

4 Hula Hoop Tambourine Illusion

Getting away from PVC pipes, we use only Dollar Store Hula Hoops to make this production device for silks, doves, rabbits, and one or two people.

5 Assistant’s Revenge Illusion

We combine a hula hoop and PVC pipes to make this classic "escape" illusion. The assistant is chained and held captive, but in an instant the assistant is free and the Illusionist is restrained.

6 Black Art Background Illusion

It's like the Movie Screen Illusion WITHOUT the movie! Instead, the performer stands in front of the screen and performs some of the most amazing magical effects possible! Solid objects appear, disappear, float, transform, and generally misbehave as if by REAL magic!

PVC Pipe & Dollar Store Illusions – Book 3 Item # 5 – Assistant’s Revenge

7 Nest of Boxes Illusion

Three nesting boxes are shown completely empty, but when nested together, a person appears inside the innermost box. Then two more people make a surprise appearance finale.

8 Cage Sub Trunk

You know you can't make a trunk out of PVC pipes, but who said you had to use a trunk? The Illusion changes when you make it a cage and you can see through the bars right up to the moment of transposition as the Illusionist and an assistant change places.

9 Spirit Cabinet (with Deceptive Steps Bonus)

First we show you how to make a PVC pipe Spirit Cabinet for séances and spooky happenings, and then as a bonus, give you some PVC steps to bring the spirit back to life.

10 Merlyn's Throne

A large throne is placed center stage. A puff of smoke and Merlyn (or anyone you like) appears seated on the throne, and rises to begin a Magic, Wizard, or Illusion show.

Any Questions? Your purchase of this book entitles you to ask questions about any aspect of the effects it contains. E-mail Professor Spellbinder at [email protected] from the same e-mail address from which you purchased the Book. © 2006, www.magicnook.com All rights reserved