Some ideas on a different way to present mentalism
This is an unpublished post — it’s the background for brainstorming ideas for creating a stage show that’s mentalism as a play…
A while back I listened to a podcast episode about directors that said something about magic shows being on a stage, but not actually a play and it got me wondering about the spectrum from magic show to play.
I don’t want to do a variety show (all mentalism, but just effect after effect) but am not sure about the workability of going full-on stage play with mentalism. That idea really intrigues me, actually, but not sure it would actually work.
A few years ago I had been thinking along these lines:
In 1896 James Kagan’s great-great-grandfather Zebulon ran away from the family farm at age 16 to seek his fortune in the Klondike. His adventures were written in his journal, which James found in 1984, and started studying. What he discovered defied conventional belief and started James Kagan on the path that’s converging with you right now.
Using the stories that Zebulon wrote in his journal, I’d (as James) recreate some of the strange things that happened, so there would be some narration from the journal, then the recreation, pictures flashed up on a screen showing Zebulon in different situations with more narration, another effect, etc.
Music, narration, mentalism routines, lighting, sound effects, etc.
I like the general idea of using something like an old journal to create a show, but there are probably zillions of other ideas that might be better. This would have some elements of a play, but the fourth wall would be broken at all times.
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“…but the fourth wall would be broken at all times.”
As I wrote that a few minutes ago I wondered, what if it wasn’t broken? I’d been thinking that to do a mentalism show you’d need to speak to the audience, but what if the helpers were characters in your play?
Just some misc ideas here…
Address the audience before the play starts and tell them you’ll need volunteers throughout the show and you need to choose them now. Throw numbered balls into the audience or something so that X number of people are ready to come on stage when it’s their turn. Show them a flashing sign at the front of the stage and when their number is flashed, they come on stage and wait at the side. Demonstrate.
Then start the show. Maybe it takes place in the office of a private detective. Phones ring with people looking for help, then secretary (offstage voice, or maybe a real person)) buzzes your intercom to tell you your 9:30 appointment is here. She brings them (the first volunteers) into your office where you meet them and open the file you have on them, and read aloud what they’re there for. Use that premise for mind reading.
Meanwhile, the next number is flashing on the screen out front so the next volunteer gets to the side of the stage where the secretary (out of sight-ish) gives them a police hat and a badge to pin on. When you’re done with the couple you escort them to the door and wish them well and the police office comes in. “What, you need help with another case?” The volunteer can either go along with it and nod or not, doesn’t matter because you just keep going and do a routine based on finding something/someone who’s lost.
Or, maybe break the 4th wall between each scene (effect) to choose the next volunteers? That might be easier, but possibly not as compelling. 🙂
And so on and so forth.
Okay, that was just off the top of my head and maybe a private investigator isn’t the right character/setting. But I kind of think something like that could be fun and entertaining. Kind of a cross between a murder mystery party and a show.
In fact, maybe a murder happens at a mansion and the volunteers are different guests who happened to be there when it happened, so it would end up being like a “murder mystery party” that people throw, but only the detective (me) is finding the killer. The helpers from the audience would all be seated on stage (with drinks and snacks!) and I’d go from one couple/group to another interviewing them and the mentalism would happen at those times. (Still stage stuff, not close-up mentalism.)
Brainstorming Ideas Here… So What’s Next?
Have you seen or heard of a mentalism show similar to the idea of performing it as a stage play? It it’s been done I’d like to talk to whoever was behind it to see if they’d tell me the pitfalls to avoid. 🙂
And if it hasn’t been done before, I’m wondering if it’s just a cool idea in my head? Or can you see where this could turn into something neat?
And, any other ideas you have about this kind of thing, feel free to tell me below!
