Let me first state that I did NOT invent the Substitution
Trunk, nor the Metamorphosis Illusion, nor the
original Trunk Escape (J.N. Maskelyne's 1865 Box Trick )
from which all of these (including my Sub Cube) were derived.
What I AM guilty of is shrinking the box down to a small 30 inch
cube, sticking a hole in the top of the cube through which the
top of the bag can be seen at all times, and making other subtle
revisions which will be explained in the e-Book.
The effect should be very
familiar: The magician is handcuffed, tied inside a cloth
bag, locked inside a cubical wooden box, which has a hole in the
top through which the top of the bag is pushed. Ropes are tied
around the top of the bag and two spectators hold the ends of the
ropes at all times. The assistant who ties the magician and locks
him in the cube box then hands the key to the padlocks to one of
the spectators. The assistant then lifts a curtain frame, which
covers the cube on all sides. The assistant jumps up on top of
the cube, raises up the curtain and counts to three. On the count
of “THREE!” the magician appears on top of the cube. As
he jumps off the cube and lowers the curtain to the floor, we see
he is dressed in a bright red outfit, not like the one in which
he started the trick. The magician gets the key from the
spectator and while the spectators untie the rope from the top of
the bag, he unlocks the trunk. The trunk is opened, the bag is
opened and inside is the assistant, still in handcuffs, and
wearing a bright blue outfit that is not the same as the one he
wore at the start of the trick. They hold hands with the
spectators and all bow to the audience before the spectators are
sent back to their seats.
All is explained in the e-Book, including how to
perform the costume changes. The box is easily constructed of
pine wood for under $100.00. All the pieces are attached with
bolts and wing nuts and come apart for transportation in the back
seat of a car. The construction and secret of the box is NOT like
anything that has been used before. The box may be displayed in
the lobby, you can lock a spectator inside and let him try to
escape and he will not succeed. The secret operation of the bag
is also unlike anything that has been used before.
