To P e r f o r m. Bring out the matchbook and open it so the matches face you and can’t be seen by anyone yet

Bring out the matchbook and open it so the matches face you and can’t be seen by anyone yet. Using your right thumb and first finger,

bend two matches away from the book: the burnt one and the one beside it (photo 2). Press the burnt one all the way down so it’s flat and under your left thumb (photo 3 is an exposed view—Criss has raised his left thumb a bit so you can see the match beneath it). Then lower your hands so the audience can see the matches, and with your right hand tear off the other match you’ve bent downward (photo 4).

Strike the torn-off match and allow it to burn for a second, then blow it out. Wait for it to cool, then place it on the table in front of you—about three inches forward of the edge.

Your right hand returns to as-sist in closing the matchbook. At the same time, your left hand tilts the inside of the matchbook to-ward you (as it was originally) so the matches are no longer visible to anyone watching. As your right hand closes the book, your left thumb levers the burnt match back inside (photo 5). Close the match-book and place it on the table. Ask a person to place his or her hand over the book, completely covering it.

Now you must make the match that’s on the table disappear. You’ll do this by using something magi-cians call lapping. Turn your right hand palm down, fingers straight, and lower it directly onto the match (photo 6). Draw your hand toward you, sliding it inward until it leaves the table (photo 7)—the match, hidden beneath your fin-gers, will fall into your lap. Move your right thumb under your fin-gers as if it’s holding the match in place (photo 8).

Raise your right hand to your mouth and blow on your fingers, then make a tossing motion to-ward the matchbook under the per-son’s hand. Show your right hand empty. Ask that person to lift his or her hand and open the match-book to reveal that the match has returned.

31.

Sneaky Sheep

Criss places five coins on the table and refers to them as sheep. Then he displays two more coins, one in each hand, and says these are two thieves who’ve come to steal the sheep. He picks up three sheep with his right hand and two sheep with his left, and yet when he opens the left hand, it only contains the two thieves, while all five sheep magically appear in his right hand.

Дата добавления: 2015-10-24