ThOuGhTs, iDeAs, oPiNiOnS, cHaTtEr

The Magic of Curtis

Ayala Center Management treated their patrons with a magic show. For their Glorietta Mall, it is a three-day magic show at the Glorietta Activity Center from September 27 to 29.

Since an officemate is going to Glorietta for lunch, I requested her to get me a ticket to the free show tonight... so that I'll be comfortably sitted while watching Curtis do his magic tricks. Being an Ayala Discount Cardholder, I am entitled to two tickets, depending on availability. She was able to get three... c",)


My officemate who was supposed to use the two tickets was not able to do so. So, with the two tickets in my pocket, went immediately to Glorietta after office. Once I arrived, looked for someone I can give the tickets. Found two kids who were just sitting in the sidelines waiting for the show to start. Gave them the extra tickets! Wow! One good deed for the day... ;)

Magic shows often leaves one in awe, wondering how those tricks were done. The fun part is being able to guess the trick! And I think, I "found" several...

1. Curtis is supposed to levitate a young volunteer. With a plank in between two chairs, Curtis asked the kid to lie down. He then wrapped the kid with a blanket while removing one of the chairs and the plank. The audience can see that the kid is "floating". He then passed a hoop to show there are no ropes lifting the child. (See upper left of the second set of pictures.)
   
   The trick? When the kid was wrapped with the blanket, he also wrapped with him a thin plank which is attached to one of the chairs.
   
   
2. Curtis cuts a rope into several strips. The idea is to make them into one strip of rope after cutting them up.
   
   The trick? When he first cut the rope into half, he would only cut one of the two strips, with the audience thinking he is cutting them equally. Afterwhich, he shows the audience the part of the rope that was kept intact. How was I able to say this? The rope he shows the audience after several cutting is shorter... c",)
   
   
3. Curtis is supposed to levitate himself. He sits on a chair, he concentrates for a few seconds then he levitates.
   
   The trick? The chair he is sitting on has a mechanical device which lifts his seat. I was able to see a metal rod and the thin metal seat when he partly opened his legs for a few seconds while he is going down.

Inspite of all this, the show is still fun to watch. And the kids, with their parents, loved it!

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Sidelight:

While trying to get into the enclosed area of the Glorietta Activity Center where reserved seats are allotted for ticket holders of the show, nearby, a man had an attack. Several security were there with him trying to revive him, and a lot of uzi a.k.a. usisero (translation: curious bystanders) were milling around him. It took some time before he was lifted and carried to the clinic.

posted by ~GFA~ @ 9/28/2005 11:50:00 PM