Poltergeist is a German word that means literally Noisy
Ghost.
"It's a nasty little feller and I've got one right here
in this box," says the Wizard, showing a small wooden chest.
He places the box on the floor and it jumps about nervously as if
something inside wants to get outside.
"Poltergeists" can normally go right through walls
and doors, and an ordinary wooden box wouldn't be able to hold
one," explains the Wizard. "However, this box has been
treated with spells. Notice the pentagrams carved on all six
sides of the box." Here he picks up the box and shows it all
around.
"I need a brave person, someone who isn't afraid of
ghosts," says the Wizard. Once he has selected a
"volunteer" he has the Muggle hold the box by the
handle on top of it. "Do you feel something trying to get
out?" asks the Wizard. The Muggle will agree that it
certainly feels like it, as the box squirms and wiggles in his
hand.
The Wizard gets a butterfly net and stands close to the box.
"You open the box and I'll catch the poltergeist in this
net," says the Wizard. Following the Wizard's specific
directions, the Muggle pulls a latch on the top of the box.
Suddenly the box falls to pieces all over the floor and the
Wizard screams "Now you've done it! He's gotten away! You'd
better sit down until I can figure out how to get him back in his
box." The Wizard snatches at the air with his butterfly net
and soon there is a struggle as something invisible is apparently
caught in the net, but it is stronger than the Wizard and soon
the net goes flying into the stage wings.
"Poltergeists are curious beings," said the Wizard.
"They watch humans closely to find out how they can annoy
them the most, so I'll have to apply ghost psychology to get this
one back in a box." The Wizard picks up the pieces of the
broken box from the floor and dumps them into a waste basket.
"First, I'll need to get a new box."
The Wizard picks up a small wooden box with a hinged lid
(Craft Shop - $2). "This ought to do the trick. Now to carve
some pentagrams on all six sides." The Wizard waves his wand
and suddenly there is a burning flash and flaming pentagrams
appear on the sides of the box, seeming to burn themselves into
the wood of the box. The Wizard opens the box and sets it on his
table after removing the tablecloth. Then he places on the table
a candle in a candlestick. He also places on the table an old
fashioned school bell with a handle, a tambourine, a glass filled
with milk (into which he drops a straw), and a can of Pringles®
Brand potato chips. "In case he's hungry," says the
Wizard.
Now the wizard grabs the tablecloth and holds it high over
the table. He lowers the cloth slowly to cover up the items on
the table, all but the open box which can be seen at the edge of
the table. The unlit candle can be seen behind the cloth, and the
Wizard raises the cloth a bit to hide it, then lowers it to show
that the candle is now lit.
"Shhh!" says the Wizard. "He's playing with
us!" The Wizard raises the cloth again and the candle stick
rises and floats behind the cloth. Then the candle drops out of
sight and the bell is heard ringing. Occasionally the bell can be
seen floating above the cloth and bumping into it. Now the
tambourine takes over and begins a noisy dance on the rim of the
table cloth. "Have some chips," says the Wizard to the
ghost. The Pringles can flies around behind the cloth and then
potato chips begin flying over the top of the cloth. "Have a
drink of milk!" suggests the Wizard. He raises the cloth
into the air and the audience can see the level of milk in the
glass fall as the poltergeist apparently takes a drink. "Now
if you only had a quiet spot where you could take a nice little
nap after the workout you've had!" Suddenly the lid of the
box closes and the Wizard drops the table cloth and pounces on
the box. "Got you! I'll just put this away where it will be
safe! In the meantime..." He hands the can of Pringles to
the Muggle who was brave enough to help him. "The
poltergeist didn't eat all of the chips, so you can share these
with your friends."
Sooner or later the Muggle will open the can of Pringles only
to have three giant spring snakes fly out for a funny/scary
finish.
