Origami (magic trick)

Last updated

Origami is a magic stage illusion with a Japanese paperfolding theme, designed by Jim Steinmeyer. It was originally performed in 1986 by Canadian illusionist Doug Henning, using a working prop constructed by illusion builder John Gaughan. Illusionist David Copperfield later introduced presentational changes that would be widely copied by other performers.

Contents

Effect

In 1986, the wonderful Doug Henning, my former boss, introduced the Origami illusion, which means that it's been twenty-five years since that debut.

Of course, at that time, I had no understanding how popular or how imitated this illusion would become. For the record, there are no "plans" for the illusion; I've always licensed it through specific associates and the illusion is protected by US patent. This hasn't prevented some magicians from building, selling and performing embarrassing and inferior versions of it. And it hasn't stopped magicians from performing it when they never really understood it. But I try to remind myself that imitation, even poor imitation, is the sincerest form of flattery.

Jim Steinmeyer (2011) [1]

Doug Henning version

Origami was first performed by Canadian magician Doug Henning in 1986. At that time, designer Jim Steinmeyer was employed as a magic consultant by Henning.

In the original presentation, Henning displays a small box, 12 inches square and decorated with Japanese-style prints, on top of a thin table. He explains that the box is held together by two ivory skewers and a wooden pole.

At this point, a male assistant appears on stage carrying a large mirror, which is mounted at the rear of the table and reflects the back of the box. Henning explains that the purpose of the mirror is to allow the audience to see the routine from the back. The ivory skewers and wooden pole are now removed from the box and placed against the mirror.

Henning tells the audience that the Origami Box is so named because it "unfolds, like an Origami work of art." He proceeds to unfold the box into a larger orange and black box. He further explains that the box holds just as much when it is folded down small as when it is opened up large. To demonstrate, a female assistant wearing a turquoise costume appears on stage and climbs into the box. Henning points out that she barely fits inside the larger box; and then proceeds to fold the box down into its original smaller size. As he does so, he recites a short poem:

"A little box, proved otherwise
The world at large, made small in size!"

The female assistant has disappeared from the table and it seems impossible that she can be inside the 12-inch box. Henning now takes the ivory skewers and wooden pole and inserts them back into the box, cross ways, length ways, and vertically. He now rotates the table, showing the back for the first time. There is no sign of the assistant.

Henning jokes that, the next time they travel, he will take his assistant as carry-on luggage. He now tells the audience that the Japanese believe that whatever can be folded can also be unfolded. As he does so, he begins to unfold the box, and recites the rest of the poem:

"And as they gazed, the wonder grew
The more they saw, the less they knew
Each fold and crease had not explained
All wonders of the world contained!"

The assistant emerges from the box, now dressed in a different outfit and wearing a mask.

David Copperfield version

David Copperfield introduced a number of presentational changes to Origami in 1989, devised by his choreographer, co-director and on-stage assistant Joanie Spina. The choreography, background music and presentational patter used in this version have all since been widely copied by other performers. [2]

Copperfield displays a red box, around 12 inches square, on a thin table. It is penetrated by three Samurai swords - "side to side, front to back, and even from top to bottom." A male assistant mounts a mirror at the back of the table, and Copperfield explains that this enables the audience to "see the box from around the sides and from the back at all times."

Copperfield asks the audience to watch very carefully "because we're going to do this very slowly."

The lights are extinguished, leaving the stage in darkness. A musical soundtrack of Peter Gabriel's "Mercy Street" plays. The lighting is slowly restored to reveal Copperfield, in silhouette, holding one of the Samurai swords. Behind him, a female assistant clothed in red is seen, sitting on the stage floor. Copperfield removes each of the swords from the box with a flourish and mounts them on a nearby rack, before unfolding the box to its expanded state. The larger box is white.

Copperfield moves across to the female assistant, takes her hand and lifts her to her feet. The two embrace briefly, to the tempo of the music, and she then steps up onto the table. The two embrace again. The assistant then steps into the box, which Copperfield then folds back into a 12-inch cube. He takes each sword in turn, with a flourish, and stabs them through slits in the center of each face of the box; the first from front to back, the second from side to side, and then stands on the table to insert the third sword from top to bottom. He now rotates the table full circle to show all sides.

Then he removes the swords, unfolds the box once again to its full size, and the assistant steps out onto the table unharmed. She is now wearing a white costume, matching the expanded box. Copperfield lifts her from the table and they embrace one last time as the lights are dimmed.

Greg Frewin version

Illusionist Greg Frewin developed a version of Origami in which a black cloth is placed over the mirror; the mirror is then broken and three of the broken shards are used to penetrate the box. Finally, the mirror is restored. [3]

Construction

The original Origami prop was constructed by illusion builder John Gaughan. Current authorized versions are licensed to Gaughan and to Wellington Enterprises of New Jersey, United States. [3]

The design of the prop is protected by US Patent #593178, issued in 2009 and expiring in 2023.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Copperfield (illusionist)</span> American magician (born 1956)

David Seth Kotkin, known professionally as David Copperfield, is an American magician, described by Forbes as the most commercially successful magician in history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sawing a woman in half</span> Stage magic trick

Sawing a woman in half is a generic name for a number of stage magic tricks in which a person is apparently cut or divided into two or more pieces.

David Copperfield has performed a levitation illusion in several magic shows since 1992 in which he appears to fly on stage for several minutes, while surrounded by audience members. The flight is notable for its graceful motion and unencumbered appearance. The illusion was included in Copperfield's CBS TV special The Magic of David Copperfield XIV: Flying—Live The Dream (1992), and has been repeated several times during Copperfield's live tours around the world. The method was created by John Gaughan. An essential contribution to make fluid movements was given by his assistant, dancer and choreographer Joanie Spina.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jim Steinmeyer</span> Magical illusion designer

Jim Steinmeyer is an American author, inventor, and designer of magical illusions and theatrical special effects. He holds four US patents in the field of illusion apparatus, including a modern version of the Pepper's Ghost illusion. Steinmeyer has consulted for many famous magicians, including David Copperfield, Doug Henning, Siegfried and Roy, and Lance Burton.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chinese Water Torture Cell</span> Predicament escape

The Chinese Water Torture Cell is a predicament escape made famous by Hungarian-American magician Harry Houdini. The illusion consists of three parts: first, the magician's feet are locked in stocks; next, he is suspended in mid-air from his ankles with a restraint brace; finally, he is lowered into a glass tank overflowing with water and the restraint is locked to the top of the cell.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Gaughan</span>

John Gaughan is an American manufacturer of magic acts and equipment for magicians based in Los Angeles, California. His style of work is classic, not based heavily on machinery and technology.

André Kole was an American magician and inventor of magical effects. He was also a committed Christian and a public speaker for the evangelical group Campus Crusade for Christ. He was also known for using his magical knowledge to debunk frauds and hoaxes.

Mark Kalin and Jinger Leigh are an award-winning American magic couple known for large-scale stage shows and for appearances on network television specials.

Richiardi Jr., was the stage name of magician Aldo Izquierdo Colosi, who became famous for dramatic and gory stage presentations of classic stage illusions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Horace Goldin</span>

Horace Goldin was a stage magician who was noted for his rapid presentation style and who achieved international fame with his versions of the sawing a woman in half illusion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Magician's assistant</span> Performer in a magic act who is not billed as the magician

A magician's assistant is a performer in a magic act who is not billed as the magician or principal name in the act.

Impaled is a classic stage illusion in which a performer appears to be impaled on or by a sword or pole. The name is most commonly associated with an illusion that was created by designer Ken Whitaker in the 1970s and which is sometimes also referred to as "Beyond Belief" or "Impaled Beyond Belief". This version has become part of the stage magic repertoire and has been performed by many of the world's most famous magic acts.

Stage illusions are large-scale magic tricks. As the name implies, stage illusions are distinct from all other types of magic in that they are performed a considerable distance away from the audience, usually on a stage, in order to maintain the illusion. Stage illusions usually use large props and may involve the use of assistants or large animals. Examples of stage illusions include sawing a woman in half and Lady-to-Tiger.

Joanie Spina was an American dancer, choreographer, magician and director who achieved prominence through her work with the illusionist David Copperfield.

Clearly Impossible is a variation of the illusion of sawing a woman in half devised by Jonathan Pendragon.

"Portal" is a magic trick performed by the illusionist David Copperfield, in which he takes a member of the audience and transports both of them to a pre-selected location, before reappearing on stage. This effect was introduced to David Copperfield's show in 2001, and was featured in the television special Copperfield: Tornado of Fire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Magic (illusion)</span> Performing art involving the use of illusion

Magic, which encompasses the subgenres of illusion, stage magic, and close-up magic, among others, is a performing art in which audiences are entertained by tricks, effects, or illusions of seemingly impossible feats, using natural means. It is to be distinguished from paranormal magic which are effects claimed to be created through supernatural means. It is one of the oldest performing arts in the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jason Bishop</span> American magician

Jason Bishop is an American illusionist and magician, and performs one of the largest touring magic and illusion shows in the United States. Bishop has won a number of awards in magic, including the Jack Gwynne award for Excellence in Presentation and was the 2006 Association for the Promotion of Campus Activities (APCA) Best Performing Artist of the Year. Bishop performs an average of 150 shows a year, including luxury cruise ships, performing arts centers, theaters, and corporate events. He has done performances throughout the United States and Europe and has been called "one of the greatest modern illusionists of our time".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Levitation (illusion)</span> Illusion is one in which a person appears to float in the air

A levitation illusion is one in which a magician appears to defy gravity by making an object or person float in the air. The subject may appear to levitate unassisted, or it may be performed with the aid of another object in which case it is termed a "suspension".

References

  1. ↑ Steinmeyer, Jim (30 March 2003). "Newsletter" . Retrieved 27 July 2013.
  2. ↑ "Stage illusions – ILLUSION BOOKS – How to Perform, Design & Present Stage Illusions". 25 February 2014.
  3. 1 2 "Origami Illusion".
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.