Prepare to be amazed! Uncover the secrets behind ‘Vivisectioned’ by Mark Parker, a modern twist on the classic Thurston illusion. A baffling spectacle awaits!n
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Vivisectioned by Mark Parker: A Modern Take on a Classic Illusion
Step into the world of magic with Vivisectioned by Mark Parker, a contemporary reinterpretation of the legendary Thurston Vivisection Illusion. This performance is not just a magic trick; it’s a theatrical experience that will leave your audience in awe.
The Illusion Unveiled
Imagine a modern circular apparatus on stage, where the performer introduces his assistant. She enters from the rear, her head emerging from the top, remaining visible throughout the act. The front panel is lifted, revealing her lower legs outside the frame while her upper legs and torso remain inside. The panel is then locked, concealing this view.
As the performance progresses, the assistant’s fingers protrude through a small aperture on the panel, remaining in full view. The performer then activates two rings of powerful LED lights inside the frame, illuminating the area around the assistant’s body, ensuring a completely see-through view at all times.
The Magic Unfolds
In a shocking moment, the performer inserts two solid metal blades at great speed—one into the assistant’s neck area, seemingly slicing off her head, and the other just above her knees. After a brief pause, the assistant’s fingers move, and she smiles, defying the apparent danger.
Not stopping there, the performer rotates the front panel 90 degrees, creating a baffling illusion where her torso and upper legs are completely rotated away from her head and lower legs. The performer then pulls the entire circular frame 90 degrees in the opposite direction, leaving the assistant in a most bizarre and mesmerizing position.
The History Behind the Illusion
Mark Parker conceived this illusion in 2003, inspired by a conversation with Scott Penrose about designing a more practical version of the original Massey/Thurston illusion. This manuscript provides a comprehensive design insight into Mark’s thoughts on this wonderful illusion, perfect for creating a detailed workshop plan.
The original illusion, invented by Morrell Massey in 1933, was presented to Howard Thurston under the name “Head Over Heels.” Thurston built the apparatus and renamed it Vivisection. Massey was paid $100 for the idea in two payments, and patent information and other written text on the Vivisection Illusion are available for the curious reader.
- Modern Circular Apparatus: A state-of-the-art design for a captivating performance.
- LED Illumination: Ensures a completely see-through view at all times.
- Historical Insight: A deep dive into the origins and evolution of the Vivisection Illusion.
A NEW LOOK AT THE
THURSTON VIVISECTION ILLUSION
A MODERN CIRCULAR APPARATUS IS DISPLAYED BY THE PERFORMER ON STAGE. THE PERFORMER INTRODUCES HIS ASSISTANT & SHE ENTERS THE APPARATUS FROM THE REAR, PUSHING HER HEAD OUT OF THE TOP WHERE IT WILL REMAIN FOR THE DURATION OF THE ILLUSION.
A FRONT PANEL PREVIOUSLY RESTING AGAINST THE FRAME IS LIFTED AWAY SHOWING THE GIRL’S LOWER LEGS OUTSIDE OF THE CIRCULAR FRAME. THE UPPER LEGS & TORSO ARE SEEN TO BE COMPLETELY INSIDE THE CIRCULAR FRAME. THE PANEL IS NOW LOCKED INTO POSITION, THUS COVERING THIS VIEW.
AT THIS POINT THE ASSISTANT’S FINGERS ARE SEEN TO PROTRUDE THROUGH A SMALL APERTURE ON THE PANEL FACE. AGAIN, THESE WILL REMAIN IN FULL VIEW THROUGHOUT THE PERFORMANCE.
BEFORE CONTINUING FURTHER, THE PERFORMER SWITCHES ON TWO RINGS OF STRONG LED LIGHTS FITTED ON THE INSIDE FACE OF THE CIRCULAR FRAME FULLY ILLUMINATING THE AREA AROUND THE ASSISTANTS’ BODY. BY DOING THIS IT FACILITATES A COMPLETE SEE-THROUGH AREA AT ALL TIMES, THE PERFORMER WALKS AROUND THE BACK OF THE ILLUSION TO DEMONSTRATE THIS FURTHER.
THE PERFORMER INTRODUCES TWO METAL BLADES & SHOWS THEM TO BE SOLID. MUCH THE SURPRISE OF THE AUDIENCE HE INSERTS ONE AT GREAT SPEED INTO HER NECK AREA, APPARENTLY SLICING OFF THE ASSISTANT’S HEAD. THE SECOND BLADE IS INSERTED JUST ABOVE THE KNEES TO SLICE THIS AREA.
AFTER A SHORT MOMENT TO ALLOW THE AUDIENCE TO REGISTER FULLY WHAT HAS HAPPENED, THE ASSISTANT’S FINGERS START TO MOVE & SHE RAISES A SMILE. NOT CONTENT WITH THIS, THE PERFORMER TAKES HOLD OF THE FRONT PANEL & ROTATES IT 90 DEGREES CREATING A VERY BAFFLING ILLUSION WHERE HER TORSO & UPPER LEGS ARE COMPLETELY ROTATED AWAY FROM HER HEAD & LOWER LEGS. THE AREAS AROUND THE TORSO ARE AGAIN DEMONSTRATED TO BE COMPLETELY SEE THROUGH..
THE FINAL STAGE OF THIS DISTORTION CONTINUES WITH THE PERFORMER TAKING HOLD OF HER HEAD & PULLING THE WHOLE CIRCULAR FRAME 90 DEGREES IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION, LEAVING HER IN THIS MOST BIZARRE SITUATION.
THE ORIGINAL ILLUSION WAS INVENTED BY MORRELL MASSEY IN 1933 & WAS PRESENTED TO HOWARD THURSTON UNDER THE NAME OF “HEAD OVER. HEELS”. THURSTON BUILT THE APPARATUS & RE-NAMED IT VIVISECTION.
*PATENT INFORMATION & OTHER WRITTEN TEXT ON THE VIVISECTION ILLUSION IS AVAILABLE FOR THE CURIOUS READER.
