Magic Trick Producing Great Mahatma Miracles. A medium performs in a cabinet where her hands are held firmly by members of a committee, supposedly preventing her from moving or using any hidden devices. Yet, while her hands are in full view, mysterious actions occur inside the cabinet—bells ring, musical instruments play, and other surprising “spirit” manifestations unfold.
Magic Trick Producing Great Mahatma Miracles
Secret and Setup
This trick relies on a hidden assistant (a small boy) who performs the actions inside the cabinet while remaining unseen:
- The Hidden Assistant: The medium brings a small child (around 7 years old) dressed entirely in black, blending into the background of the cabinet. He hides under her skirts while they enter the stage and enters the cabinet unnoticed.
- The Cabinet Setup:
- The cabinet is draped with a black material that hides the assistant and has transparent, lighter-colored gauze openings on the sides, where the medium places her hands.
- The assistant wears all black to blend seamlessly with the dark interior of the cabinet, utilizing a principle called Black Art—where anything dark remains nearly invisible against a dark background under certain lighting conditions.
- Committee Involvement:
- The medium extends her hands through the gauze openings, and committee members hold her hands to ensure she cannot perform any actions inside the cabinet.
- This touch reinforces the illusion of her restraint, making it seem impossible for her to be manipulating objects within the cabinet.
Performance
- Positioning in the Cabinet:
- With her hands extended and held by the committee, the medium appears completely occupied and incapable of performing any physical actions inside the cabinet.
- Meanwhile, the assistant hidden inside begins the “supernatural” manifestations.
- The Spirit Manifestations:
- While the medium’s hands remain in full view, the assistant uses various small instruments—bells, tambourines, or other noisemakers—to create sounds and perform “spirit” activities.
- The assistant may also manipulate objects that would be difficult to explain if the medium were truly restrained, such as waving fabric, rattling chains, or gently brushing against the walls of the cabinet.
- Ending the Act:
- After a series of sounds and movements, the medium withdraws her hands, ending the manifestations.
- She then exits the cabinet, and the assistant either stays hidden or discreetly exits under cover of her clothing, remaining unseen by the audience.
Explanation of Mechanics
The Producing Great Mahatma Miracles trick is effective due to the following principles:
- Black Art Technique: Dressing the assistant in all black against a dark background in low lighting makes him virtually invisible to the audience.
- Hands Held by Committee: By keeping the medium’s hands in view and restrained, the audience is led to believe she has no involvement in the actions inside the cabinet, adding authenticity to the effect.
- Small, Portable Instruments: Using light, easy-to-handle instruments allows the assistant to perform actions silently and efficiently without drawing suspicion.
Tips for Success
- Rehearse with the Assistant: The assistant should practice moving silently and working with instruments to minimize any chance of detection.
- Strategic Lighting: Low lighting around the cabinet emphasizes the Black Art effect, making it even harder for the audience to see the assistant.
- Distraction and Misdirection: The medium can draw attention to her restrained hands and speak calmly to distract the audience from any slight noises or motions made by the assistant.
Conclusion
The Producing Great Mahatma Miracles trick relies on classic misdirection and Black Art principles to create an eerie, seemingly impossible effect. With the medium appearing fully restrained and an unseen assistant conducting the “spirit” activities, the audience is left thoroughly mystified by the supernatural spectacle.
