A Sawing in Half Design

A Sawing In Half Design This is my answer to a question I was asking myself if it was possible to create a combined Wakeling-Thin Model Sawing prop. I think both versions of the sawing are ecellent! each with its own strengths. With the Thin Sawing! you have a very strong visual image! especially when the prop is built well. With the Wakeling Sawing! you have the strong impact of audience participation and having audience members up-close to the performance of the illusion. So! does that mean it is a good idea to combine the props" I did not know so I designed it and had it built in #$$%. I built it for a T& show but unfortunately did not get to use it because we did not have enough time to rehearse the illusion perfectly as the build took longer than epected. We eventually focused our efforts on another sa wing '()%$ Sawing*+ so did not n ot perform this illusion in our live shows. ,lthough! maybe! it might be worth eploring again. In concept and physical form! I think the illusion works. Two Two natural visual advantages are that the boes can be much shorter smaller than the Wakeling boes and the audience can actually see the girl separated into two. The presentation and handling will give you the best of both worlds although you cannot follow the Wakeling Sawing handling eactly because of the method. In rehearsals! the effect flowed very well and Im confident it would have worked on stage as well. /irst! the prop. 0ou 0ou need to be familiar with both the Wakeling with the Thin Sawing to fully under the details of this version as it is literally a combination of the two. While the two versions of the Sawing are original with their creators! the combination design is mine along with certain modifications. I also reworked the dimensions to make the prop as deceptive as possible. I also wanted to retain the 1Wakeling feel philosophy intention thinking which is two wooden boes on a tabletop. 2nlike the Wakeling Sawing! the boes cannot be placed over the girl but are already in place as per the Thin Sawing. The plans are not available so you will have to work it out for yourself if you are interested to build this. I will give some indications of dimensions along the way. Design The design style follows the simplistic design of the Wakeling Sawing. The table is a partial base with top boes on each half-table as per a Thin Sawing. I have changed

the traditional Thin Sawing base from a beveled one to a flat top with an understep 'another hollow step under the table+. If I were to rebuild this prop again! I would have four legs per half-table. It makes the prop more stable and normal-looking.

There are head and foot rests at either end of the table. They are #3 high. There are holes cut out through these rests and through the bottom of the table to accommodate the leather straps as per the Wakeling presentation.  ,s with the Thin Sawing! there are doors only in the front of the prop. The bottom half has a pair of fake feet 'preferably mechanical+ and a leg fake behind the door. My fake feet were mechanical attached to a rig that would move via remote control.

0ou also need neck and feet stocks to cover around the neck and ankles so the spectators on stage will not see inside the prop. 0ou will also need to have two blades that is standard with a ny sawing in half prop. 2nlike the Wakeling routine! the straps do not need to be gimmicked.

Back of  Prop where neck and feet stocks are attached via Velcro for easy access The breakdown of the table base is as follows4 The main step is #.53 thick with #3 aluminum molding all around. There is a 63 understep under the main base. The bottom is made from 6.5mm sheet aluminum which allows an etra (give* 'fle+ of about $.#53. This gives a base depth of slightly more than ).53.

The height of the boes depends on the si7e of the girl you use. 0ou need to have the girl lay flat on the ground and tuck in her legs to the side as per the Thin Sawing technique. Measure the height from the floor to the highest point of her body in this position 'it will be her hip+. Take this height and subtract ).53. This will be the finished height of the top boes. The (give* 'fle+ from the bottom sheet aluminum will be offset by the material thickness of the top doors of the boes. Performance & Presentation The presentation and routining for this prop cannot be the same as the Wakeling Sawing due to the method and mechanics of the prop. 0ou cannot have spectators on stage while the girl gets in and out of the bo as they will see the dirty work. So! the routine has to be ad8usted accordingly but performed in such a way that you retain the essence of the Wakeling routine. If you feel strongly that you must perform the routine as per the Wakeling routine! this prop is not for you. 9esides the girl! I think having one more stage hand assisting helps make the performance smoother although it is not fully necessary. I rehearsed this too be performed by 8ust the girl and myself. 0ou start off by introducing the prop and the classic illusion of dividing a lady in half. 0ou eplain that the original routine used the simplest of apparatus: a solid table with two boes. 0ou can use the Wakeling presentation for the introduction. Introduce the

girl and have her enter the prop as per the Thin Sawing. ;ock her in place with the stocks. State that at this point! the Illusionist will proceed to divide the girl into two. isplay the blades and you allow the additional spectators to eamine them. ?roceed to slam both blades through the center of the table. The girl should react and (faint* when the blades are slammed through (her*. Separate the table and open the two front doors to show the girls arm and (leg*. ;ift the girls limp arm out of the bo as per the Thin Sawing.  ,sk the two spectators to drop the straps to the ground. Invite all the spectators to walk around! between the two half-tables and then back to their seats. This is reminiscent of @ichardis presentation of allowing the audience to walk around the girl after he had sawed through her! minus the blood and gore.

One of the girl’s from the office at that time divided in half. She is not an illusion assistant.  ,fter all the spectators have returned to their seats! state that dividing the girl in half is the easy part. The hard part is to put her back together. This cues your music track and you finish the routine as per the standard Thin Sawing handling silently to music. And off by removing the leather straps and snapping your fingers to wake the girl up. She climbs out of the boes and you end the routine. The routine features both patter and to-music performance which gives a nice tetured performance. Thats itB I hope my solution gives you food for thought a nd inspires your own routine or version of the Thin Sawing! Wakeling Sawing or Combo.