JIM STEINMEYER
WWW.JIMSTEINMEYER.COM
X MARKS THE SPOT THE ONLY THING W R O N G with the Square Circle Production is the same thing that's wrong with the hemline of an old skirt. We're now bored by it and we want something different, something more fashionable. Audiences, of course, don't have any idea that the Square Circle is out of fashion, and it's a shame that the snobbery of magicians prevents this useful piece of apparatus from being used or applied to other settings. For example, this small illusion is an amazingly efficient production of a person. In the 1950s and 60s, when the Square Circle was the "Little Black Dress," and could do no wrong, it was easily incorporated into several illusions, taking advantage of the efficient load ratio. "X Marks the Spot" uses the Square Circle in a subtle way, adding a tricky little "raised off the ground" touch that adds to the presentation. "In this case, X marks the spot," the magician begins, pointing to an upright box with a large X on its side. "I'm going to build a little square enclosure between four large Xs—four walls, a ceiling, and a floor. When I'm finished, it'll be suitable for use as a doghouse in a back yard. But I'm hoping to rent it out as a studio apartment in Manhattan. Actually, first I'm hoping to do some magic with it." The music begins and he steps behind the boxes. Because of the cut-outs on front and back, it seems as if the box is on legs, or raised off the ground (fig.1). The magician lifts up the outside box. As he does, it's apparent that the outer box has a cut-out X on the front, showing a black interior. He leaves behind a slightly smaller box with a red X painted on the front. He tips this box forward, showing it empty. He displays the black interior. He lifts it, dropping it around the inner box. Then he reaches inside, sliding up the inside box (fig.2). This is tipped forward and similarly shown empty. He replaces it inside, so the two boxes are once again nested. Now the magician picks up two thin wooden panels, each marked with an X (fig.3). One of these is slid into a notch, just above the legs, forming a sort of floor to the enclosure. The final panel is laid across the top of 44
GENII
MU the boxes, forming a lid. "That's all the pieces. An efficient little apartment, unfurnished, handy to local amenities. Freshly painted. Move-in condition. And X marks the spot! If you don't think that I can run an ad in the real estate section and rent this out for a lot of money ... try to explain how I got this tenant!" He claps his hands. The lid flies to one side and a lady stands up. She's standing on the floor of the enclosure. The magician offers a hand and she hops over the side to take a bow.
These have slightly smaller red Xs painted on them. There's a clever black fake, which is responsible for the trick (fig.4). It's a black bridge, a sort of low stool that's 11 inches tall, 28 inches wide, and 18 inches deep (front to back). Its front is a thin wooden panel covered with black velvet. This is the masking that's in front of the lady when the audience apparently sees into the cut-out X. This cut-out fits perfectly between the legs of the boxes so that it can't be seen within the framed legs as the boxes are handled. Drawing 5 shows a side-view of the apparatus, with the lady crouched atop the little bridge. The routine is simple, and is presented as already explained. When the inner box is lifted, the black fake gives the impression that the audience sees the empty black interior through the cut-out X. Practice sliding the inner box in and out so that it moves smoothly and doesn't hang up on the bridge or your assistant. When the "floor" panel is slid into the grooved slots, it goes just below the level of the black bridge, of course. But when the lady stands, it seems as if she's standing on this floor level. You can easily customize the prop for individual shows; instead of an X, use a Christmas Tree shape, or the monogram letter of the guest, or a company logo.* The boxes should be built to the right size around your assistant, but here's a guide to the dimensions. The outer box is 40 inches tall, 32 inches wide, and 22 inches deep (front to back). The inner box is 40 inches tall, 30 inches wide and 20 inches deep. Ideally they're made out of thin material, like quarter inch wood or foam core, with aluminum angles on the four sides. Because of the nature of the trick, one box nesting in the other, the angles or braces have to be arranged so that they're on the exterior of the outer box, and the interior of the inner box. There is a cut-out at the bottom of the boxes so that they seem to be on legs. This cut-out rectangle is 10 inches tall (floor to the top of the cut-out). Notice that on the outer box, the legs are extra wide and small notches allow for the floor to be slid through, locking it in place. The legs have some width, on both boxes, to help conceal the fake. More on that in a moment. The outer box has an X shape cut-out on the front. This is matched with a red X on the inner box. Similar red Xs are on the backs of each box. Two thin panels (3/8" plywood) of 22 by 26 inches are the floor and ceiling (fig.3). DECEMBER 2011
45
