本帖最后由 lijiajun 于 2012-6-10 12:50 编辑
While card and coin tricks often depend on sleights, the moves used with the multiplying balls are more often manipulations. The positioning and re-positioning of the balls and the shell between the fingers creating the desired illusion. This is the case with the handling explained here. Originally published in "The Magician" magazine, London, 20 January 1910, as "Novel Colour Change With Billiard Balls" By Collins and Bretma. It is a method by which two balls of the same color become two balls each of a different color with the hands shown front and back after the change occurs. Effect The arm extends stage right, the back of the hand downstage. A red ball is held between the thumb and first finger, a second red ball held between the first and second fingers. The hand makes an up, then down motion. When the hand stops moving there is a red ball between the thumb and first finger and a green ball between the first and second fingers. The hand then turns back to front to back to show both sides of the red and green balls. Props Red ball, red shell, green ball. Setup & Handling The green ball is in the red shell held at the shell rim by the thumb and first finger. The red ball is held by the first and second fingers. The remaining fingers are extended and spread apart. The third finger moves down, the tip of the third finger contacting the top of the green ball just upstage of the shell rim and first finger. The third finger tip levers the green ball out of the shell, rolling the green ball down until it is behind the base of the thumb. The second finger moves down putting the red ball into the shell. This is the standard two to one move with ball and shell. Once the red ball is in the shell, the second finger tip rests on top of the green ball pressing the green ball against the base of the thumb. This frees the third finger which slides down the palm and under the green ball. The green ball is now held clipped between the second and third fingers. The thumb and first finger holding the red shell and ball extend down and away. The third finger tip pivots the green ball against the second finger tip until the green ball is held between the first and second finger tips. The hand motion stops. The audience sees a red ball between the thumb and first finger, and a green ball between the first and second finger tips. The hand can now be turned front to back showing the palm side of the hand and one red, one green ball. Manipulation The original version of this sequence used a multiplying ball set of a much smaller diameter than the current 1-3/4 inch / 44.5 mm currently in use. This made the manipulation much easier since the ball initially rolled out of the shell could be completely hidden by the thumb and repositioning the the top ball quicker since there was more clearance. When using 1-3/4 inch balls this issues can be negated by tilting the hand up stage as it is kept in motion. Performance Notes In their original description of the handling Collins and Bretma noted "This particular sleight, to present it properly, will tax the abilities of the most expert, but it well repays the time devoted to its acquirement. The sleight has for its object the colour change of one or two red balls held in one hand, this change being executed unaided by other hand. These rather subtle manipulations are entirely masked by a quick up and down movement of the hand, and must be accomplished by the time it takes to make the said movement
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