A Wrinkle On - The Cut And Restored Credit Card
AUBREY SINDEN
Aubrey emailed me with a suggestion for a way to make the Cut and Restored Credit Card suitable for a children's show, an idea that I had not considered before. Here is his routine, mainly in his own words...
The set-up is virtually the same except that the credit card wallet in your pocket is empty and your credit card is on the table. You have two halves of a matching credit card already set up in the fake envelope in the stack.
Get a child up to help, show him the credit card already on the table and ask him if he knows what it is. If necessary tell him that it lets you do your shopping without carrying money around. Which might get lost. Ask him to read the name aloud. "Yes, that's me"
Say that the other day you did your shopping at Sainsbury's and then went into W H Smith's for a book but your credit card had gone. You went back to Sainsbury's and learned that some kind person had found it in the car park and had handed it in at the store. So that you didn't lose it again you explain that you bought this little wallet to keep the credit card in. Bring the empty wallet out of your pocket and slip your credit card openly into it before putting it away in your pocket again.
"So, if you ever find a credit card then be a good boy and hand it in. OK? Good, now I'd like you to help me do some magic with a card"
Produce a motley collection of cards. (A good way of using up all those odd unwanted ones.) My selection consists of regular cards with different backs, Happy Families, Mr Men, Snap and so on
"Take any card that you like, or any card that you don't like if you like." (Thanks to Eric Sharp)
Get them to write their name on the face and show it around. Insert the card into the envelope stack as per instructions, pick up a pair of scissors, cut the envelope and let the top half fall on to your table
At this point I use Stanley Watson's "Cut, No Cut scissors" supplied years ago by Supreme Magic. Any scissors will, of course, do but mine allow for a bit of business. Close the scissors, give them to the boy and pick up the dropped portion of the envelope. Invite him to cut either of the two pieces in half whilst you hold them. Of course, he can't open the scissors
"Alright, we'll cut that bit out then! Hold the two halves of the envelope containing your card, wave the magic scissors and the pieces will join together again"
"They haven't? Oh, dear, these naughty scissors are playing up aren't they? Take the pieces out and I'll get you a magic wand"
"Wait a minute. That's not your card. What is it? Yes, it's a credit card. Read out the name. That's mine and it was in this credit card holder a few minutes ago. Oh, look, your card is in there now. Those naughty scissors played a good trick on us, didn' t they? Keep your card and, if you ever find a credit card, you will be a good boy and hand it in, won't you?"
"Good. Give him a clap"
JAMES FORTUNE
This is a way of extending the comic destruction of the spectator's credit card. Instead of having an old cut credit card in the stack, James has a piece of card cut to the size and shape of a credit card instead. He then cuts the envelope in half, thus apparently severing the borrowed credit card. After it fails to restore, he 'realises' that maybe he cut the card the wrong way and holding the two halves together, he cuts the envelope again lengthways, thus dividing it into four! Still no luck restoring it.
Claiming that the card is now worthless - he burns it! Of course, eventually the original card is found restored in the wallet taken from the pocket. James also suggests that you could use a self-lighting candle to 'accidentally' burn the envelope. The candle is lit and held behind the envelope to apparently show the silhouette of the credit card inside, and then the flame is blown out. Unbeknown to the performer, the candle relights and catches the envelope on fire creating a comic situation. Nice ideas!
MARK LEE
This is a gag which Mark uses with this effect, and it appealed to my sense of humour. After he has put the borrowed credit card into the envelope and sealed it down, he says he will now cut the card in half. "But don’t worry, I’ll use my INVISIBLE scissors!" So saying, he reaches into his pocket and brings out the imaginary scissors with which he pretends to cut through the envelope and card. However, the envelope is obviously still in tact so he says: "Oh, don’t you think your card is really now in two pieces? It is. Look, let me show you."
At which point he quickly pulls out a real pair of scissors, cuts right through the envelope and card and separates the two. "There you are, see?"!
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