JI M STEINMEYER

WWW.JIMSTEINMEYER.COM
X MARKS THE SPOT
THE ONLY THI NG WRONG 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 per-
son. 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
Xsfour 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
MU
the boxes, forming a lid.
"That's all the pieces. An efficient little apartment, unfur-
nished, 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.
44 GENII
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 alumi-
num 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" ply-
wood) of 22 by 26 inches are
the floor and ceiling (fig.3).
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 wood-
en 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 handl ed.
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 "fl oor" 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 l ogo.*
DECEMBER 2011
45