Tarbell 102: Pantomime Illusions

This lesson is about the combination of grand illusions with pantomimic performance art.

This opens up an excellent opportunity to dress up illusions in exciting and entertaining stories.

Boxes and cabinets are commonly used in grand illusions to make people appear, disappear, or transform.

When these effects become part of a dramatic story, the level of acting increases and the illusion becomes even more interesting for the viewer, and the act itself lasts longer.

On some occasions, instantaneous disappearances are important, but there is also often an opportunity to illustrate a story through illusion performances.

Harlan Tarbell describes four multi-person pieces for small and large stages:

• The Phantom of the Circus with six different roles for four participants.
• The Chinese, the ghost and the cat, a production for three people.
• The Mystery of the Three Ghosts, a person swapping illusion for a performer and three ghosts.
• The secret of the dancers - six girls appear from a small, empty cabinet.

48-page brochure with many drawings. German language