The Great Escape

FUNNY TRICKS WITH CLEVER BITS!
4-71
The Great Escape
By now you’ve probably guessed that I love tricks
that are i) funny, ii) involve helpers and iii) the
children are the ones who actually make the magic
happen. This effect is basically a version of ‘Rope
Through Body’, which, in turn, is based on the
magical principle of ‘matter through matter’.
The simple plot is that two ruffians, in this instance,
Bill Bandit and Louie the Lip, hold up a victim (the
performer). They threaten him with their banana
guns if he doesn’t give them the loot. Bill Bandit
and Louie the Lip then proceed to securely tie the
performer up with thick rope. They continue to bind
him with about six very tight knots. It’s at this stage
that the victim calls for help!
His cry for help is answered by policewoman, Sally
Saviour. She casts a magic spell, and the securing
rope with its many knots just melts away; enabling
the performer to make his escape. Sally then
handcuffs the two robbers, and marches them off to
jail.
Fig 4.107 shows the cast. Policewoman Sally
Saviour wears an oversize police hat, carries huge
handcuffs and holds a ridiculously large foam baton
or truncheon, which are available in joke shops.
Dress up the gangsters by using real bananas for
their guns. Give Bill Bandit and Louie the Lip each a
gangster-type hat. Then add to the fun by giving
them each a lightweight loot-bag. Actually mark the
swag-bags with the Dollar symbol or ‘loot’, as in the
usual cartoon style. This completes the props.
until near the end, as it’s not good theatre to have
someone up front during the period when they are
not taking part in the action.
Many rope though body effects have to be prepared
with an extra rope, which is hidden under the front
waist band. There are some adaptations of this effect
where the performer needs to be wearing a coat.
Other variants are based upon the ‘Grandmother’s
Necklace or ‘Cords of Phantasia’ principle, and
therefore need to be prepared in advance.
You’ll be pleased to hear that the Great Escape can
be done at any time, and uses a regular piece of
magician’s thick rope, about 14 feet long (four
metres). The trick requires virtually no preparation,
apart from a small gimmick, which temporarily
holds the rope loops. This fastening creates the
illusion that the rope is wrapped around my body.
Fig 4.108 shows the easily-made gimmick and its
peg could be
a round head bolt
3cm
5cm
8cm
angled
aluminium
3cm
Gimmick
Actually, I do not call up policewoman Sally Saviour
Fig 4.108 (above)
This shows the easilymade gimmick and its
approximate dimensions. It
may be inserted into the
rear of your pants belt at
any time during the show
or even worn from the
beginning.
Fig 4.107 (left)
Bandit Bill
SS
Louie the Lip
Sally Saviour
I do not call up
policewoman Sally Saviour
until near the end, as it’s
not good theatre to have
someone up front during
the period when they are
not taking part in the
action. Add to the dressing
up by using real bananas
for the guns, ridiculously
oversize handcuffs and a
police hat for Sally, plus a
very large foam baton
4-72
HOW to CREATE KIDS’ MAGIC and TRIPLE YOUR INCOME!
Fig 4.109
A close up view of the
performer’s rear belt.
Notice how the two rope
loops fasten around the
peg of the gimmick,
hence making a
temporary hook up.
From the front view the
audience sees a regular
rope, which appears to be
wrapped around the
victim’s body.
end
B
end A
front
body
peg
Fig 4.110
Take the centre of the
rope and wrap it around
yourself. When your hands
are out of sight, simply
hook a loop of rope from
each hand and place them
over the peg. Immediately
bring your hands out to
the front position, yet still
retaining tension on the
ends of the rope.
pants belt (rear)
double-tie
across
tummy
area
gimmick inserted
into small of back
under belt
approximate dimensions. You may insert the
gimmick into the rear of your pants belt at any time
during the show, or even wear it from the outset.
Fig 4.109 shows a close up view of the performer’s
belt pulled into the small of his back. Notice how
the two rope loops fasten around the peg on the
gimmick, hence making a temporary hook up. From
the front view the audience sees a regular rope,
which appears to be wrapped around the victim’s
body. Tie the first knot or two yourself. This is just
to ensure that you maintain sufficient tension on
each rope loop to keep them from prematurely
popping off the peg. If your belly shape causes this
kind of concern then modify the peg with a snapclip. The snap-clip prevents the rope loops from
popping off, and allows you to let go of the rope.
Getting the rope loops hooked around the peg is
quite simple. It takes minimal practise to make it
look as if you are naturally wrapping the rope
around your waist.
Routine
Invite up two boys to help you, and introduce them
to the audience as Bill Bandit and Louie the Lip.
Encourage the boys to growl in a menacing way. If
you wish, now is the time to get the audience
booing and hissing at them. Give the two boys the
coil of rope, their loot bags, gangster hats; and to
get ready to capture their victim (that’s you). As you
innocently walk along, they pounce upon you!
The two robbers force you to tie up yourself. Take
the centre of the rope and wrap it around your
waist. It is when your hands are out of sight, that
you simply grab a loop of rope with each hand and
hook them over the peg. Now immediately bring
STICK
‘EM UP!
JOHN
magicians’
soft rope
(thick)
your hands out to the front position, yet still
retaining tension on the ends of the rope, see Fig
4.110. Tie the first knot of rope across your tummy.
Invite the boys to tie another knot on top of your
knot, while you hold the first knot steady with your
finger. There’s room for comedy here as the boys
tighten the rope across your finger. At this stage
there will be just enough rope left for you to again
wrap the rope around your back, and again around
the gimmick. Tie off with a single hitch across your
tummy. Bill Bandit and Louie the Lip now begin to
make menacing noises as they are about to tie your
wrists together.
At this stage you call for help. “Police! Police! Help!
I’m being mugged!” Now invite up policewoman
Sally Saviour to come to your rescue. She picks up
the huge handcuffs and the giant foam baton from
the table. Sally issues a stern warning to Bill Bandit
and Louie the Lip by shouting out the magic word.
Amongst all the chaos your right hand casually goes
behind your back to lift off the loops of rope from
the fastening peg. The restraining rope instantly falls
away; and you’re free! Make the most of the ‘matter
through matter’ magic that has just happened.
The audience gives the players their applause as
Sally Saviour marches off clutching the two villians,
Bill Bandit and Louie the Lip.