The Essential Assistant
It is usual when working illusions of this description to have the assistance of a third person. This assistant must be dressed completely in black, with black gloves and a black mask. The latter can very easily be made from a piece of silk, or any other material that is slightly elastic. It should be stitched into the form of a cylinder sufficiently large to pull over the head. Two eyeholes are then cut in the desired position, and the mask is complete ([Fig. 5]).
Garbed in this somber attire, the assistant is able to move about the stage quite freely without being seen by the audience, and to lend powerful but invisible aid in accomplishing many first-class deceptions. However, this point will be referred to later, and attention should now be turned to the construction of the “black stage” itself.
Fig. 2.—The finished frame.
[Fig. 1] illustrates the appearance of the finished stage, and [Fig. 2] shows the framework of which it is constructed. This framework is comprised of a number of laths fastened together by the method shown in [Fig. 3]. A small metal rod—a long nail with the head filed off will suffice—is driven into each upright lath. This must be done carefully or the wood will split. Next a hole is bored by means of a drill or red-hot poker in each of the laths fitting upon these uprights. By placing the hole in each cross lath over the nail in the upright lath, as shown in [Fig. 3], the framework can easily be put together or taken to pieces, when it is necessary to convey the stage from one point to another.
Fig. 3.—Laths fastened together.
Fig. 4.—Method of joining laths of frame.
Fig. 5.—Cloth or silk mask.
[Fig. 4] depicts the mode of fixing two laths together lengthwise. Instead of having one long lath, it considerably facilitates conveyance if two smaller laths are joined by two thumbscrews as shown in [Fig. 4]. A joint of this description is also shown at C, [Fig. 2].
As can be seen by the diagram, the framework is simply a skeleton box; but a little way beyond the center another lath should be carried across at the top (A B, [Fig. 2]). Two curtains of black cloth must be obtained and fastened to this lath so that they overlap at the center (D, [Fig. 2]).
It will now be noticed that this curtain divides the stage into two separate compartments. The first of these is the stage proper, upon which the illusionist performs his various mysteries. The second compartment is reserved to provide an exit for the performer and his assistants, the flap in the curtains acting as a doorway. Some of the apparatus required for the various illusions may also be kept here during the performance.
The dimensions of the stage depend entirely, of course, upon the size of the room in which the entertainment is to be given. The minimum width, or “length of frontage,” should not be less than ten feet, and the distance from the front of the stage to the beginning of the partition curtain not less than six feet. The distance from the partition curtain to the back of the stage is not of great importance. Provided there is room for the assistant to move about, this is all that is required. Two and a half feet is ample.
The following dimensions will be found about as convenient as any; but if the reader is in a position to construct a larger stage, so much the better.
Frontage, 12 ft.; height, 7 ft. 6 in.; distance from front to partition curtain, 7 ft. 6 in.; from partition curtain to back of stage, 3 ft.
Having decided upon the measurements of the stage, a further supply of black cloth must be procured and fitted completely over the framework. It is preferable to have this cloth already stitched into shape ([Fig. 6]), so that it can be simply drawn on over the box-like structure of laths.
Fig. 6.—Cloth covering for frame.
It is also necessary to spread another piece of black cloth upon the floor.
Lastly, the stage front must be decorated. These decorations consist merely of two curtains hooked at each side of the opening, and a frieze draped along the top lath, as shown in [Fig. 1].
The lighting arrangements must be left largely to the discretion of the reader. If he be a “handyman,” he can fit four incandescent gas burners to the front of the show. A very effective, although primitive, method of lighting is illustrated by [Fig. 7]. Two pieces of wire are hooked to the top lath, a pair at each side, and three small bull’s-eye lanterns fastened at intervals to them (see diagram).
Fig. 7.—Method of lighting.
Fig. 8.—Another method of lighting.
Yet another method is depicted in [Fig. 8]. About half-a-dozen holes are bored in a piece of gas-piping, which is stopped at one end. Ordinary burners are screwed into these holes and tin reflectors attached. The whole arrangement is then bound securely to the top lath after the framework has been fitted together. It is then necessary only to fix a length of gas-tubing from the open end of the pipe to the nearest gas-fitting. If the reader decides upon the latter method of illumination, his best course will be to go to a plumber and place the job entirely in his hands.
The chief thing to bear in mind is, that no light must shine into the stage, the only illumination being projected into the eyes of the spectators, thus dazzling their vision as much as possible.
The stage described can, of course, be greatly improved upon. The above description is intended simply as a rough guide for the boy whose skill in carpentry does not extend much beyond knocking a nail or tin-tack properly into a piece of wood, which, by the way, is not such an easy task as most people imagine.
Having constructed a stage suitable for working purposes, we may proceed with another illusion.