Paul Kostrach's 'SACK LUNCH' A Routine for Higley's '3 No Evil' (Used with permission)
(The performer - let's call him Paul - places a brown paper sack on the table.)
PAUL
It's funny some of the things people leave you when they pass away. My uncle Roger left me a trunk full of unusual stuff - but then he was an unusual guy. Having been sealed in an airtight trunk for 60 years kept most of the contents in pristine condition -
(Paul begins removing items from the bag - a small compass, a fragment of a map showing the Amazon River, and a plain brown envelope with "Higley Expedition 1942" stamped on the flap. OR, in some cases an Embossed Leather Envelope)
PAUL (Continued)
- except for the sandwich, of course.
(Paul tips over the paper bag and a mummified sandwich falls onto the table. He shakes the bag a bit to make sure it is empty, then sets the it aside.)
PAUL (Continued)
Uncle Roger was an anthropologist by trade, but he was a real hands-on type. His particular fascination was the Jivaro Clan from South America - the ones who specialized in shrunken heads.
(Paul picks up the brown envelope)
PAUL (Continued)
In 1942 he joined the ill-fated Higley Expedition in search of the Jivaro. The tribe had begun the practice of trading the secret of shrinking heads for items they coveted, notably gold and items of modern design and usage.
(Paul opens the envelope and removes some postcards)
PAUL (Continued)
The Jivaro practiced the art of shrinking heads in order to absorb the power of the former owners, and the process of shrinking was thought to harness the spirit of the enemy and compel him to serve the Jivaro.
(Paul slowly mixes the cards in his hands)
PAUL (Continued)
Uncle Roger did find the Jivaro, but no amount of bartering was able to get him posession of an actual head. It seems the tribe was very superstitious, and although they would trade the shrinking secret for gold, they would not trade the powerful heads themselves. Roger was able to secretly take photos of several of them, which he had put onto these postcards.
(Paul sets one of the cards aside, and lines up the other three on the table)
PAUL (Continued)
The funny thing is, these three heads seem to correspond to the Hear No Evil, See No Evil, and Speak No Evil archetypes. There is a lot of power just in the cards alone, can you feel it? It almost seems like they are watching us now; I mean, the ones that don't have their eyes sewn shut.
(Paul picks up the envelope and sets it in front of the cards)
PAUL (Continued)
Uncle Roger called this envelope the Dark Museum file. His notes indicate that he had plans to open a museum with artifacts from his travels. That was before the tragedy, though. But I'm getting ahead of myself.
(Here Paul goes into the 3NoEvil presentation from the instructions. When he is done. . .and recieves suitable applause...)
PAUL (Continued)
So it appears that the power of the heads still does have an influence over 60 years later! I know Roger felt their influence himself. His notes toward the end took on a tone of morbid paranoia, and he seemed to be worried that he was being followed. Then, shortly after the expedition, he disappeared.
(Paul looks over at the (TIPPED OVER Toward the spectator?) "EMPTY" paper bag. He lifts it, turns it upside down, and gives it a little shake. As he puts it back on the table, he edges away from it a little.)
PAUL (Continued)
Roger always wanted one of those shrunken heads for his museum. I guess in the end, he finally got one.
(Paul reaches into the previously empty lunch bag and removes a shrunken head. The Speak No Evil Head!)
PAUL (Continued)
The Secret of the Jivaro seems to be safe. Say Hello to Uncle Roger.
THE END
Here is the terrific winning routine by Paul Kostrach in it's entirety. (except for the 3 No Evil method which you already have). Personally, I would eliminate the mummy sandwich but some may like it. :-)
The beauty of this production is that it can be made in a few minutes from cheap stuff (a couple of lunch bags), and no one holds the rights to it that I can see, since it's pretty much common knowledge. As you can see, this is more of a routine for a séance or small theatrical venue than a quick walkaround trick. Though under the right circumstances and IF you own a Higley Shrunk Head...obviously I need one...(see photos)
Paul Kostrach
Louisville, KY
Photos by Paul Kostrach. (Used with permission.)
For this wonderful idea and routine, Paul will be recieving a Higley Shrunky Head...so he can eat the Orange. (Doug)
Note from Doug... Amazon.com has a nice and inexpensive brass 'Expedition looking' COMPASS.
Paul Adds: "Here are a few photos of the bag and my "head". It works for the size head I had, and will work with bigger heads with a slightly larger size lunch bag. The only thing you have to do when you remove the head is angle the bag slightly away from the audience to access the secret chamber. It takes a few times to get it smooth, but after that it's a piece of cake. Note: You can also fold the edges of the bag outward as well, which looks a little more natural I think."
Oh...Does the name, Paul Kostrach sound familiar?
Imagine you're at a friend's party and you reach into an ice chest and pull out a soda. Show everyone the full can - the top, bottom and sides. You then tell them about a game of "soda can roulette" you used to play in college and begin to vigorously shake the can in front of them. Tell them that you've never lost or been sprayed because you use magic to win. Instantly and visibly the can crushes, to the utter shock of the spectators.
Paul Kostrach has been using Emptied for over 10 years, often as an opener to his show-and it kills every time. When we first saw it, we simply had no idea how it was done; it really blew our minds.
After 8 months of working with a manufacturer who has patents covering the production of beverage cans, a professionally made gimmick was produced. It makes this and many more effects possible. The gimmick is included along with a superbly produced instructional DVD.
Emptied is much more than a single trick DVD. It is a utility device that will unlock your imagination on the kinds of effects you can now create with soda and beer cans almost anywhere in the world. Visit your favorite Dealer. :-) and of course Paul's site...
What I did was nest a second bag inside the first creating a false bottom. The top edges are folded over so you can't see the seam of the insert. Three of the sides are glued to keep it in place, and the fourth side is left open (though folded) so the head can come out when needed. You hold the head through the bottom of the bag as you are pouring out the contents, and you can casually set the bag aside with the interior facing the audience. That way they can see that the bag is empty without you actually calling attention to the fact. When it's time to produce the head all you have to do is turn the bag over, and the head rolls out through the fourth side.
Method: The production is accomplished with a double-walled lunch bag (or any similar bag of your choice). It's an old idea, one version of which you can find in the Mark Wilson Course In Magic. Banacheck did something like it for mentalism as well. There is a similar one in Tarbell #6 called Fu Manchu's Utility Bag. All of those are a little different from what I'm doing. Wilson's version has basically the same two pockets in the bag, but a spectator can't look inside. Tarbell's has a hole in the bottom.
(You may have to reach in and give it a start depending on the style and thickness of the bag you are using. Also the heads are not round, so 'rolling' might be beyond reach. Maybe plopping is good.)
Custom Higley Shrunky Heads For Sale!
SPECIAL!! For those who want to do Paul Kostrach's 3 No Evil Finale, "Uncle Roger's" Shrunky 'Speak No Evil' Head $95. $6 shipping USA or $10 shipping Overseas. Each will be unique and hand made.
Note from Doug: This is also good for a Birhday Party as well! Or Parlour show. I don't even see a problem for a Busker if he/she has a small table in use. And even though you are 'producing' an item...it is still a strong piece of variety Mentalism!
