Whenever I can, I like to add a simple magic trick to my
shows, so when I wrote the 2010 program, I considered Soft Soap, a trick that
involves magically cleaning three small silks. Since I had used this trick during
my clowning days, I knew it was a crowd pleaser. I wrote dialogue for Squirrely
Shirley to tell me she needed help with her laundry. Since the trick requires a new cardboard
box each time, I visited my local magic store for supplies. I
discovered that the tear-up box used for that trick had gone from 25 cents to $1.99
each (yes, I’ve had this trick for a long time). I decided to see if I could find
a substitute box. In the cereal aisle of the grocery store, I found Attune’s Uncle Sam cereal. The box is not only perfect in size, shape and eye-popping design; it
contains good-for-you cereal! Best of all, a box of Uncle Sam cereal costs
about the same as the not-too-exciting empty box at the magic store! I was happy. Then I made arrangements to get
a supply of the cereal so I would have a box for each of the shows booked for our
summer tour.
During the show, Shirley and the audience helped me “clean”
her towels by doing a little song and dance. What fun it was when I tore up the
box once the magic was over and Shirley learned that her use of the word
disposable did not mean wonderful.
Here’s a short video segment of that part of the show.
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