A fantastic, amazing, unique rope routine with over 20 effects!
Aldo Colombini
ALDO COLOMBINI’S TIGHT ROPE
INTRODUCTION This rope routine is a showy one and I offer no apologies for this statement! I think that I am introducing you here to a solid piece of magic and entertainment. Some of the moves are adapted from my original routine called :The Mamma Mia Rope Routine” and some from another routine of mine called “Knotty Knot” but this new routine can stand alone as several other magical effects have been added to the originals. The rope is used over and over again without cutting it so the busy performer will have a chance to do several good minutes of magic, needing only a few seconds to re-set, and without the necessity of buying lots and lots of rope. The routine is great for stand-up performers as it does not require a table and all the objects are kept inside your pockets. Several magicians, after seeing this routine performed at the Magic Castle as well as many other venues, asked me to make it available in print. Well, now you have it! Of course, now that you have purchased this booklet, you have the right to take some or all of the effects and put them into your already existing routine. In fact, I encourage it! Adapt these moves to your performance, personalize them and make them your own. As I have always taught in my lectures: be yourself, don’t copy another performer’s style or personality. By using these moves in your own way you will have much more success and they will be natural to you. I have inserted dozens of figures in this booklet to help you to follow the moves. Rope routines are not easy to write and I hope everything is very clear. Many performers are responsible for bits and ideas used on the following pages. Credit should go with equal thanks to Jean Merlin, David Williamson, Daryl, Flip, Horace Bennett and Ronald Dayton. Enjoy and ... hang’em high!
Aldo Colombini Colombini Magic
[email protected] www.wildcolombini.com VISIT OUR WEB WHERE EVERYTHING’S $10.00 Ebook prepared by Lybrary.com www.lybrary.com
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ALDO COLOMBINI’S TIGHT ROPE
ALDO COLOMBINI’S TIGHT ROPE REQUIREMENTS: One piece of rope about 4 or 5 feet long (130 cm); A piece of rope of the same color about 10 inches long (25 cm); A silk 18 inches square (45x45 cm); A wide and strong rubber band to be placed around your left wrist; Two pieces of rope about 3 inches (7,5 cm) each tied into a knot. All the ends of the ropes (except the two short pieces used for the knots) should be glued so they will not fray. NOTE: In all the figures the two pieces of rope are shown in two different shades to make the explanation clear. All the figures (unless otherwise stated) are shown from the magician’s point of view. SET-UP: Place the rubber band around your left wrist above the cuff on the left shirt sleeve. Fold the long rope in two and place it inside the left sleeve of your jacket, the fold up towards your elbow and the ends toward your wrist. Tuck the two ends under the band leaving them protruding an inch or so as in figure 1. The rope is safely in place until you pull the ends and then, the rope becomes free and it can be easily pulled out. When the jacket sleeve is in its normal position, the rope is hidden from view. Place the short rope in your performing case (or bag). Insert the silk into the outer breast pocket of your jacket. Place one knot in your left pocket of your jacket and the other in the right. Now you’re ready to go! PERFORMANCE: Phase One: Stretching The Ropes: Place your hands inside your performing case and apparently remove two short ropes. When the hands are out of view, quickly pull the ends of the long rope out of your left sleeve using the right hand and place them into the left hand, one between little finger and third finger and the other between the thumb and forefinger (figure 2).
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The right hand then takes the other short rope in the same grip. To the audience you are showing two short ropes of the same length, one in each hand, as shown in
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figure 3 (audience’s view). (NOTE: If this is your opening effect you may want to enter with the two ropes showing as in figure 3 and omit the rubber band around your left wrist.) While you are talking to the audience place the short rope, held by the right hand, into the left hand directly above the other ‘short’ rope (figure 4).
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Fold up the lower end of the short rope gripping it between the left thumb and forefinger and place the upper end of the long rope between the little finger and third finger of the left hand (figure 5). This is done in a second. The right hand grasps the two lower ends as in figure 6. Pull the right hand to the right pulling the long rope out of your left sleeve. Stop when all the rope is pulled out and you are in such a position to show two lengths of rope between the two hands (figure 7). The secret cross between the ropes is hidden by the left fingers. Drop one end of the rope, then drop the other one (figure 8, audience’s view). This is a wonderful effect. Phase Two: Two Ropes Become One With the right hand place one end of the long rope into the left hand to the left of the ends of the short rope (figure 9). Drop one end of the short rope towards you so that it
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is concealed behind the left hand (figure 10). The right hand takes the other end of the long rope (still hanging) and grips this end together with the lower end of the short rope (figure 11). Hold one end of the long rope in the left hand, hold the other end of the long rope with the right hand together with the end of the short rope and drop the middle. You are showing a long rope between the two hands (figure 12, audience’s view). This is the Standard Restoration which is used again later in the routine.
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12 Phase Three: The Rope With Four Ends
Place the short rope into the left hand next to the end of the long rope already there as in figure 13. Immediately fold the short rope and place it next to the end of the long rope (figure 14). Place the end of the long rope held by the right hand next to the ends of the short rope, to the right (figure 15). You are showing four ends. Look down apparently surprised to see four ends. Move one end of the long rope between the short rope as in figure 16. Finally, with the right hand, take the ends of the long rope (the ends facing right) and pull them to the right hand. You will have two ropes again as in figure 8. (The secret cross is once again held by the left hand.) Perform the Standard Restoration changing the two ropes into one once again (figures 9, 10, 11 and 12). Phase Four: Cut And Restored Rope While you are talking, the left hand hides the end of the rope it is holding as in figure 17. The right hand moves to the left hand and you place the center of the short piece of rope onto the left forefinger. Fold the short piece in half and place the right hand end in the left hand next to the other end of the long rope (figure 18). These moves are done quickly without looking at your hands. Hold the forefinger and middle finger of the right hand as a pair of scissors and grab the middle of the rope. Apparently cut the rope in half with your fingers, while
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you really place the middle of the rope behind the left hand (figure 19), lower the forefinger as if cutting the rope and drop the ends of the long rope (figure 20) and grab the middle in your left hand (figure 21). You are showing two pieces of rope. Change the ropes into one performing the Standard Restoration.
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22 Phase Five: A Rope With No Ends
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Place the end of the rope held by the left hand into the right hand, next to the other end of the long rope (figure 22). The left hand grasps the long rope with the third and little finger and the middle of the short rope between thumb and forefinger. Bend the short rope with the left hand bringing into view the two ends while the right hand holds the two ends of the long rope (figure 23). The left hand slides the short rope to the left (figure 24, during the sliding process) along the long rope until it reaches the middle of the long rope. Apparently you have the middle in the right hand (really you have the two ends of the long rope) and the ends in the left hand (really you have the middle of the long rope with the two ends of the short rope showing as in figure 25 which shows the real situation). Give the two ends of the rope to a spectator and invite him to knot them. As he holds the ends, leave the ends in his hands and move away with the long rope for a big laugh.
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Now show the long rope as one large loop with no ends by taking the rope with the left hand next to the right hand (figure 26). Move the two hands apart really sliding the left hand along the rope. It will look as if you are sliding the loop through the hands giving the illusion that it is a whole loop. Repeat this a couple of times. In the process, take the ends of the rope in the left hand. Phase Six: Knot In A Loop Mystery
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Place the right hand palm up in the loop, holding the upper strand of the rope as in figure 27. Move the right hand to the left hand while turning the right hand palm down and place the part of the rope held by the right hand behind the left hand loop. Place the left thumb through the right hand loop and then below the part of rope hanging from the left forefinger (figure 28). With the left thumb, pull the end held by the left forefinger free, upwards and to the left linking the two loops together (figure 29). Then show the two loops to the audience as in figure 30 (audience’s view). Place the loops in front of your eyes and say, “Elton John.” Then pull the rope and show a knot as in figure 31 which is quite magical considering that you have tied a knot in a loop with no ends!
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Phase Seven: The Ends Are Back Say that in order to untie the knot you must place the ends back on the rope. Take the short rope with the right hand and hold it folded on the long rope next to the left hand as in figure 32. Apparently you will wrap the short rope around the long rope but really, drop the end that faces left towards you and over the long rope gripping it between thumb and forefinger of the left hand. The forefinger of the right hand folds back the end of the long rope around the end of the short rope (figure 33). Then your right forefinger
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and thumb fold down and forward the end of the short rope around the end of the long rope. Apparently you have twisted the short rope around the long rope, really you have twisted together one end of the long rope and one end of the short rope. Show the rope as in figure 34.
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Pull the hands apart showing one end of the rope in each hand (figure 35). This is a wonderful magical effect. Now untie the knot and you will show one piece of rope. (The short piece of rope is in your left hand.) Phase Eight: The Traveling Ends Now you repeat the action of Phase Five but with the hands reversed. To do this, place the end of the rope held by the right hand next to the other end which is held in the left hand. The right hand takes the short rope, folds it along the long rope (figure 36) and moves it to the right until it reaches the middle of the long rope).
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Apparently you have the ends of the rope in the right hand and the middle in the left hand, really you have the two ends of the long rope in the left hand and the middle of the long rope (with the short rope folded) in the right hand (figure 37). Place the two ends of the rope in the right pocket of the trousers. Do a magic gesture, then show the two ends in the left hand taking them one in each hand (figure
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38, audience’s view) and then pull the rope out from the pocket showing the middle. Apparently the ends of the rope traveled from the pocket to the hands and the middle from the hand to the pocket. You are now left with a long, single piece of rope. Phase Nine: The Vanishing Knot While you receive your applause, the left hand goes into your left pocket in a natural way and palms the knot, holding it in the left finger palm position. Tie a Slip Knot in the middle of the rope as follows: Begin with the middle of the rope draped between your middle finger and forefinger of the left hand as in figure 39 (the extra knot has been removed for clarity). Your right hand takes the end of the rope which is hanging on the back of your hand and brings it towards yourself and over your left index finger (figure 40). Push the end through the loop but from back to front and away from you (figure 41). Your left forefinger and thumb pinch the rope as the right hand pulls the rope to tighten the knot.
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As the knot begins to tighten, your middle finger pushes its piece into the loop and allows the loop to tighten around the finger and its little piece of rope (figure 42). As the knot is tightened the middle finger is removed. You should have a Slip Knot that looks like a regular knot (figure 43). By pulling both ends the knot vanishes. Remember, you are tying the knot while holding an extra knot in the left hand. With the left hand grasp the visible knot in the middle of the rope and place it in
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your mouth. At the same time, secretly place the extra knot in your mouth as well. Take one end of the rope in each hand (figure 44, audience’s view). Pull the hands apart thereby secretly untying the Slip Knot, while keeping the middle of the rope in your mouth. Pull the rope out of your mouth and the knot is gone from the rope. Try to speak to the audience, mumble, then spit the knot aside as if you want to get rid of it quickly and secretly for a big laugh! Phase Ten: Knotty Knots While you are talking to the audience do my Single-Handed Secret Slip Knot as follows: The knot must be near the left end of the rope (about 10 inches from the end). Place the spot where you want the knot to appear on the fingers of your palm up left hand (figure 45).
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Bring your left hand palm down (facing the floor) while the right hand holds the rope and pulls it to the right (figure 46). A loop has formed in front of your left fingers. As you cup your left hand, the thumb moves down and grabs the left end of the rope (figure 47). The left thumb brings this rope into the loop (figure 48) and presses it in and through it while you remove the fingers. Both hands begin to move apart which causes the loop to tighten around your thumb and the rope you are holding with it. As soon
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as the rope gets tight remove your thumb, bring it onto the knot (figure 49) and tighten the knot by holding it with the left hand and pulling the rope towards the right with the right hand.
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Now visibly tie a regular Slip Knot about 10 inches from the opposite side while you keep the other knot hidden at all times (figure 50). Do not tighten this knot too much. While keeping the left knot concealed, put the right end of the rope in your mouth while your right hand holds the center of the rope (exactly between the two knots) and the left hand holds the rope at an L shape as in figure 51 (audience’s view). You are going to throw the left end of the rope at the visible knot and allow it to swing in an counter clockwise direction up and to the right. As the rope passes in front of the end hanging from your mouth, your right hand pulls the center of the rope which allows the Slip Knot to untie. As the rope swings around making a whole revolution, catch it in your left hand similar to the position shown in figure 51. The knot is seen to appear on the other end of the rope. To the spectators it will look like the knot jumped and landed on the rope that swung around. This is a wonderful effect and it will always bring a big reaction. Hold the end of the rope with the knot in the left hand and the end without the knot with the right hand as in figure 52. Hold the rope so that the knot is about one inch below the left hand. Bring the right hand over to the left. The right end gets clipped by the left thumb and forefinger next to (to the right of) the other end (figure 53). Without pausing, the right hand grabs the knot while the left hand releases its grip on the left end 53 54 of the rope (figure 54). Move
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the right hand to the right, apparently pulling the knot along the rope (figure 55, at the beginning of the move). When you get all the way across to the other end of the rope, open your hand and show that the knot is now on the other side. Repeat this one more time reversing the moves and apparently sliding the knot back to the left side of the rope with the left hand. Hold the rope with the left hand, palm facing the audience. The left thumb is about one inch above the knot (figure 56). Apparently grab the knot with the right hand, but really the right hand covers the knot (figure 57), closes into a fist and moves down as if it has grabbed the knot. At the same time turn the left hand palm towards you hiding the knot (figure 58).
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Slide the right hand along the rope to the other side and pull it clear from the rope as if you slid the knot all the way along the rope and removed it into the right hand. Place the right hand end of the rope into the left hand next to, and to the left of, the other end of the rope as in figure 59. Bring the right hand into the right pocket as if placing the knot there. Palm the extra knot and keep it concealed in the right hand finger palm position. Drop the knotted end of the rope from the left hand to show that the knot is back on the rope.
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Hold the rope between the hands with each hand about 4 or 5 inches from the knot and with the knot in the center of that portion. The extra knot is concealed in the right fingers. Note the position of the right thumb directly below the knot (figure 60). Pull the rope apart and the Slip Knot will vanish. At the same time flip the extra knot into the air and towards the audience with the right thumb (a flicking motion as the kids do with marbles) as in figure 61. Apparently you have removed the knot from the rope and you are now clean and left with a single piece of rope.
61 Phase Eleven: Silk Off Rope Hang the rope on your left wrist and remove the silk showing it to the audience. Twirl the silk into a rope and drop the rope onto the silk. Hold the silk between the forefinger and middle finger of the left hand. One corner is hanging onto the thumb of the left hand (figure 62).
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(NOTE: The next two figures are shown with two ropes, the dark rope representing the silk. Remember that in performance you are using one rope and a silk.) The right hand moves between the two ropes and takes the corner hanging from the thumb (figure 63). Tie a knot in the silk utilizing the corner held by the right hand
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the part that hangs from the left forefinger and middle finger. Then insert the same corner of the silk through the loop formed by the silk hanging onto the left thumb. Grab that same corner (after it has passed through the loop) with the forefinger and thumb of the left hand. Grab the opposite corner with the right hand and pull, tightening the knot around the rope (figure 64).
64 Do not pull too tight. The knot is really outside the rope but kept there by the corner of the silk that goes on top of the rope and passes through the silk loop. Give one end of the rope to a spectator to hold and slide the silk back and forth on the rope. Stop when the silk is back in the middle of the rope. Do not forget this, as it gives the illusion that the silk is really tied onto the rope. Take the rope with both hands, each about a foot from the silk. The hands are brought together to cause a bow or droop in the center of the rope. The ends of the rope are pulled sharply apart. This causes the rope to snap tight. Repeat this action immediately and the silk will come free (it will either shoot up in the air or drop) still tied in a knot. Give the silk to the spectator to check that the knot is a real one and you are done!
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