JIM STEINMEYER

WWW.JIMSTEINMEYER.COM

X MARKS THE SPOTTHE ONLY THING W R O N G with the SquareCircle Production is the same thing that's wrong with thehemline of an old skirt. We're now bored by it and we wantsomething different, something more fashionable.

Audiences, of course, don't have any idea that the SquareCircle is out of fashion, and it's a shame that the snobberyof magicians prevents this useful piece of apparatus frombeing used or applied to other settings. For example, thissmall 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 easilyincorporated into several illusions, taking advantage of theefficient load ratio. "X Marks the Spot" uses the SquareCircle in a subtle way, adding a tricky little "raised off theground" 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'mgoing to build a little square enclosure between four largeXs—four walls, a ceiling, and a floor. When I'm finished, it'llbe suitable for use as a doghouse in a back yard. But I'mhoping 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 asif the box is on legs, or raised off the ground (fig.1). Themagician lifts up the outside box. As he does, it's apparentthat the outer box has a cut-out X on the front, showing ablack interior. He leaves behind a slightly smaller box witha red X painted on the front.

He tips this box forward, showing it empty. He displaysthe black interior. He lifts it, dropping it around the innerbox. Then he reaches inside, sliding up the inside box(fig.2). This is tipped forward and similarly shown empty. Hereplaces 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 intoa notch, just above the legs, forming a sort of floor tothe enclosure. The final panel is laid across the top of

MUthe boxes, forming a lid.

"That's all the pieces. An efficient little apartment, unfur-nished, handy to local amenities. Freshly painted. Move-incondition. And X marks the spot! If you don't think that Ican run an ad in the real estate section and rent this out fora lot of money ... try to explain how I got this tenant!"

He claps his hands. The lid flies to one side and a ladystands up. She's standing on the floor of the enclosure.The magician offers a hand and she hops over the side totake a bow.

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The boxes should be built to the right size around yourassistant, but here's a guide to the dimensions. The outerbox is 40 inches tall, 32 inches wide, and 22 inches deep(front to back). The inner box is 40 inches tall, 30 incheswide and 20 inches deep. Ideally they're made out of thinmaterial, like quarter inch wood or foam core, with alumi-num angles on the four sides. Because of the nature of thetrick, one box nesting in the other, the angles or braceshave to be arranged so that they're on the exterior of theouter box, and the interior of the inner box.

There is a cut-out at the bottom of the boxes so that theyseem to be on legs. This cut-out rectangle is 10 inches tall(floor to the top of the cut-out). Notice that on the outerbox, the legs are extra wide and small notches allow forthe 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 Xshape cut-out on the front.This is matched with a redX on the inner box. Similarred Xs are on the backs ofeach box.

Two thin panels (3/8" ply-wood) of 22 by 26 inches arethe floor and ceiling (fig.3).

These have slightly smallerred Xs painted on them.

There's a clever black fake,which is responsible for thetrick (fig.4). It's a black bridge,a sort of low stool that's 11inches tall, 28 inches wide,and 18 inches deep (front toback). Its front is a thin wood-en panel covered with blackvelvet. This is the maskingthat's in front of the lady when the audience apparentlysees into the cut-out X.

This cut-out fits perfectly between the legs of theboxes so that it can't be seen within the framed legsas the boxes are handled.

Drawing 5 shows a side-view of the apparatus, with thelady crouched atop the little bridge.

The routine is simple, and is presented as alreadyexplained. When the inner box is lifted, the black fakegives the impression that the audience sees the emptyblack interior through the cut-out X. Practice sliding theinner box in and out so that it moves smoothly and doesn'thang up on the bridge or your assistant.

When the "floor" panel is slid into the grooved slots,it goes just below the level of the black bridge, ofcourse. But when the lady stands, it seems as if she'sstanding on this floor level. You can easily customizethe prop for individual shows; instead of an X, use aChristmas Tree shape, or the monogram letter of theguest, or a company logo.*

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