Rule 5: The Arrow from the Bow

Rule 5: The Arrow from the Bow

In 1911 Nevil Maskelyne and David Devant, two of the premier magicians of the day, published Our Magic. In the first section, The Art in Magic, Maskelyne outlines 20 rules for magic performance. After well over 100 years, are these rules still relevant, and do they apply to more than magic?

Rule 5: Let each magical act represent a complete distinct, and separate entity; comprising nothing beyond one continuous chain of essential details, leading to one definite effect.

This is the last rule given in chapter 3 of Our Magic, and as such it feels almost like a round-up of rule two, three and four; the other ones presented. In essence the idea is that each section should have a clear effect, or goal, and each step taken within that section should lead only to that goal.

Something that is made clear though is that this rule is specifically about a single effect, not a single event. In other words, multiple things may happen at the same time, but they are all part of a united effect. This can be a tricky concept to grasp. The example given in the book involves a jug of wine and a jug of milk and a magician ruining them both. It’s pretty, but feels a tad antiquated these days. Instead, imagine a magician on stage, chained up inside a cloth bag. You watch them struggle, then - bang! - as the bag collapses because the magician vanishes from inside, at the back of the audience there is a cheer as the magician runs through the theatre. Two separate events creating one single effect. The two things are happening at once, but they don’t violate rule 4 because you only need to understand a single effect.

This is something of a balancing act, and can be tricky to pull off. When using multiple simultaneous events to create a memorable effect, make sure you don’t fall in love with how clever you’re being, and always keep in mind the rule that everything you’re doing should lead to that one goal.

TFT

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