Float a Boat
In the routine, you show a box made of clear plastic that is empty. You open the lid and drape a cloth handkerchief over the open box. Mysteriously, a form slowly rises up from the box under the cloth and suspends in mid-air. The audience has a clear view of the levitation from any angle and sees no support of any kind.You then lift a corner of the cloth up and over the levitating object only to have it suddenly disappear leaving the cloth hanging empty in your fingers. You find the floating object again and encourage it back into its box.
While a traditional Zombie routine plays stronger to large crowds, "The Thing" offers a great levitation that isn't angle sensitive and provides a genuine mystery. The crowd doesn't understand how the foulard is being influenced or even what is influencing it. I performed "The Thing" at shows over a few months a couple of years ago and found it to be a great routine, particularly for kids.
Stand Out Magic
In his "Stand-Up Magic For Kids" DVD from a few years back, Abbott published the effect and offered instructions on how to make your own props. At the time, he also sold the finished props. Given a choice of making your own based on the DVD instructions and purchasing the final props, I recommend that you purchase Abbott's kits, that is, unless you know how to competently sew.The new "Platinum" gimmick is higher quality and easier to handle. The previous gimmick had a tendency to slip out of position and when working the effect, you always had to deal with this potential hazard. The new prop maintains the position of the gimmick so it's always ready to work and you don't have to spend time "finding" the gimmick.
If you own an earlier version of "The Thing," you've already dealt with the down sides of the earlier model. While the new gimmick is easier to handle, it's probably not worth the price of the upgrade.
Out of the Box
The box looks the same but its center of balance has been altered for the better. The new box is more stable because the lid does not lean back as far when it's opened. With the original box, I had problems with it falling backwards during performances.While this can still occur with the new box, it does a better job of staying upright. Again, while the original box could be a pain under certain conditions, I worked with it enough that I could perform with it (thanks to Blue Tac).
The excellent training materials include a DVD with new footage, discussions and instructions. As in the past, the kit comes with a poster that displays all of the moves so you can reference them as you learn the routine. These new instructions are sold separately for those who already own the props.
New Routine
Interestingly, Abbott's routine has changed drastically in the last few years. The original routine mimicked a traditional zombie routine with "the thing" obtaining a personality of its own and trying to fly away. The new routine is more straight-forward and streamlined. I agree that it is more mysterious.If you already own "The Thing" and perform it, you probably don't need this upgraded kit. But if you have been wanting to perform this strong and visual routine, this Platinum Edition is worth the money.
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Dealers can purchase from Murphy's Magic Supplies, Inc.
