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The Effect The performer introduces the dark period of English history surrounding the Civil War. He talks about the violence of the period and the deep suspicion and uncertainty that ruled the day. He then turns his attention to the insidious history of witch hunts in England that formed a part of suspicion and persecution that rose across all of Europe. He singles out a period of intense activity in Essex (1645-1647) during which two witchfinders were highly active in interrogating and persecuting suspected witches. He introduces a small academic volume that documents the records of all the women (and two men) suspected of witchcraft. He invites six people to join him on stage to help recreate events from this period. The participants are shown five black pebbles and one white pebble which are put into a bag. Each participant selects one pebble from the bag (the participant with the odd-coloured pebble becomes the witch) and is given a white card with either TRUTH or LIAR written on it. The participants cast themselves in the role of a liar or a truth teller, and the performer asks them three questions about witchcraft. He then names the witch, while the other participants form a jury to put the witch on trial. The performer calls attention to a sealed envelope that has been in full view with the word ‘verdict' written on it. Using the suspected witch, he then carries out four demonstrations of mind reading. In the first two demonstrations, the suspected witch uses a pendulum to test his or her psychic power and then takes part in a card matching test. In the third demonstration, chooses one county of Eastern England, which is then ‘sent' to the mind of the performer, who spells out its name. In the final demonstration, the suspected witch chooses a page from the book and concentrates on the case material for that particular suspect. Not only does the performer correctly identify the case details, but the case that is identified appears in a graphic image from the period contained in the book! Finally, the five remaining participants (using the rest of the audience is also possible) vote by a show of hands whether the suspected witch is GUILTY or NOT GUILTY. The envelope is opened and the verdict is read out: the vote and the verdict match! Further particulars The effect comes with a 100-page academic book on the period. There are 10 pages of introductory text, 78 pages of case files based on the real archives of the Essex assizes, and several pages of academic references. The introduction in the book provides all the information the performer needs to provide the context for the effect and to do the two demonstrations of mind reading. The routine explains how to use a bag of pebbles and the six cards to identify the suspected witch (alternative handlings are discussed), how to carry out the four demonstrations, and how to achieve the predicted verdict. The full effect can be performed as above, or different parts can be done separately. For example, for walk-around and close-up the book can be used as a straight book test with a full page reveal. The effect is easy to do and allows the performer to concentrate on the presentation. The interrogation is easy to do and involves a common principle from mentalism. The demonstrations of mind reading using the book are virtually self-working, with everything the performer needs contained in the design of the book itself. The verdict revelation is based on an Annemann principle and is fully explained. Taken together, this product offers a ten to fifteen minute routine that is full of dark material grounded in historical facts. The mental effects make sense in the context of the book and the discussion of the period. The performer can construct the supporting props to be aged and to fit the feel of the period (e.g. the verdict and be printed on parchment paper and the envelope sealed in wax, the bag and pebbles can be made to look mysterious, etc.). Finally, the routine offers the opportunity for audience participation and involvement. This product should prove attractive to a wide range of performers as it can be played as a straight historical piece or darker more bizarre piece.
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