The Magical Peppers and the Island of Invention. Sian Pattenden

Чтение книги онлайн.

Читать онлайн книгу The Magical Peppers and the Island of Invention - Sian Pattenden страница 4

Автор:
Жанр:
Серия:
Издательство:
The Magical Peppers and the Island of Invention - Sian Pattenden

Скачать книгу

raised a hand to her forehead. Esmé recognised the glazed look in Twinkle’s eyes from her swoon in the gypsy caravan.

      “A chair!” squeaked Twinkle. Esmé ran to get one from backstage.

      As Twinkle sat down, she closed her eyes and murmured softly, “Keith Chalk, the spirits tell me that you are near…” Her raised hand quivered a little, then with a thud fell on to her lap.

      Tabitha opened up her skull ring and read the time from the miniature watch face inside. “Well, you did just call him.”

      A split second later Keith Chalk appeared through the main door.

      “Keith is here, everyone,” shouted Twinkle. “I knew it.”

      An excerpt from

      Dr Pompkins – Totality Magic

      TRICK: The Vanishing Stamp

image

      A little close-up magic. Start by exclaiming that you can make the Queen disappear! Of course, by that you mean the Queen’s head on a stamp, not the actual Queen…

      Place a stamp on a table and a glass tumbler on top of it. Pour water into the glass just over halfway and place a saucer over the glass.

      By the miracle of refraction, there is absolutely no way that the stamp can be seen through the glass tumbler.

image

      This is so effective because it is so simple.

image

      Stage Lighting

      It’s a good idea to use spotlights if you are performing on stage, but remember that strong lighting can change the appearance of things. Take care with shiny metal apparatus and glossy paint – it may reflect the light and make it difficult to see properly, even with just a desk lamp.

      Stage lighting can also affect the way you will look, as it drains the colour from your face. You will look like a ghost unless you wear theatrical make-up. Ask your drama teacher or a nice lady how to use it. Mrs Dr Pompkins does my make-up every time and I look healthy and flushed 24/7.

      In all totality,

      Dr Pompkins

       image

      Potty brushed himself down as Keith walked on to the stage.

      “You must be Mr Chalk,” he said, holding out a long arm in greeting. “Pleased to meet you.”

      “Yes, I’m the fix-it man,” replied Keith, surveying Monty, the fish and the fallen ladder. “Anything you need fixing, just ask me. Looks like you might want help already…”

      Keith Chalk had brown curly hair, thick eyebrows and a straight nose. He wore paint-splattered overalls with pockets full of small spanners and wrenches. He held out a large hand and smiled as he was introduced to the Pepper twins.

      “The first thing is that there’s a small issue with the light bulbs,” Tabitha told him.

      Keith looked up at the lighting rig and scratched his head.

      “No problem,” he said, good-naturedly. “I can get this row of lights changed, but is this something that happened during rehearsal? And in which case, is it likely to happen again?”

      Potty nodded. “Yes, maybe.”

      “If so, we could always try and cover the bulbs in thin sheets of heatproof plastic,” said Keith, enthusiastic about problem solving. “That should deal with the real issue.”

      “That’s a great idea,” said Potty.

      “I love to think of the bigger picture,” said Keith. “You’re a magician then?”

      “How did you guess?”

      “The back of your cape has the words ‘The Potty Magician’ stitched into it.”

      Potty scratched his chin and looked with intrigue at Keith.

      “I wonder if you have any thoughts on spring-loaded objects?” asked Potty.

      “Always tricky. They can shoot off and end up anywhere, which can cause problems with your audience – and health and safety. You should really be looking at having more control.”

      Potty was impressed. Keith seemed to have something that Potty lacked – a practical take on adventurous ideas.

      “Are you a fan of magic?” asked Potty.

      “Oh, yes,” said Keith. “I love the skill, the showmanship. I like to work out how the magicians do each trick – it takes a lot of technical skill to make sure everything comes to life.”

      Potty nodded enthusiastically in agreement.

      “I’ve seen Pat Daniels perform live six times,” continued Keith. “I even managed to catch Trev and Peller once – they did that incredible trick which made it look like Trev was covered in a million dollars’ worth of banknotes and then was run over by an eighteen-wheel truck. For a start, the notes themselves can’t have been real…”

      “But I heard that they were,” said Potty. “The money was passed around the audience beforehand…”

      “They must have been switched at some point,” said Keith.

      “It is possible…” mused Potty.

      Esmé watched Potty and Keith talk with interest – they seemed to be getting on splendidly.

      “Then of course there’s the truck,” continued Keith eagerly, “which must have had at least one fake wheel, so that when it went over him—”

      “…he wasn’t injured! Of course,” shouted Potty, finishing Keith’s sentence. “And maybe the truck was weighted to one side, so as not to hurt poor Trev.”

      “That’s it,” said Keith. “You’re a—”

      “…genius!” finished Potty – and they both laughed.

      At once, Esmé realised that Potty’s act, as great as it was, had been missing something – a person who could make Potty’s ambitions a reality. She was sure that Keith Chalk was this person.

      “Uncle Potty,” said Esmé, tugging on his cape. “Why doesn’t Keith help you with this performance? He can make your tricks a hundred times…” Esmé was trying very hard not to say ‘less prone to disaster’, “…more workable. I read a book which said that many of the top magicians secretly employ inventors to make their act the most sensational – and completely unique.”

Скачать книгу