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Jiggery Pokery
Stockport |
Three characters enter a space, the Master, the Flirtatious, and the Stupid. They play, making lots of noise whilst greeting their audience. Music begins, a line forms and the magicians begin a new game, glancing at each other and looking away quickly, which gradually changes into peeping at the audience over newspapers. A pause, watches are checked... It is time.
Newspapers are torn, and magically reconstructed, one becomes paper dolls and another a strand which goes on and on. A little dance, followed by a stern telling off then in a further attempt by the Stupid magician to please the audience she makes her own shoe appear and disappear!
Familiarity crosses the Flirtatious magician’s face and she runs to a man in the audience, flowers appear in his hand apparently out of thin air, she kisses him and returns to the Master who is displeased. The Master makes a silk handkerchief disappear, and then reappear, from the sleeve of the Flirtatious one. As an added punishment, her bra appears on the end of the line of silk scarves!!
Colour fills the air as silk scarves are thrown in a combined dance and juggling routine. Hierarchical banter begins once more: the Stupid magician begins her own dance, oblivious to the disdain of the other two. As she takes her bow, she is pushed back by The Rope.
The rope is tied around the Stupid one’s neck who acts afraid. Once around her neck, the other two pull the ends, an act which should strangle, but which magically incurs no harm.
Still, the Stupid magician does not like to be put down and sits with the audience as she watches the beginnings of a high energy dance routine. Gradually she joins in, only to get it all wrong and so is excluded from some parts. The music speeds up, and as it becomes impossible to keep up... It finishes.
The Box is brought forward and uncovered. A series of poses gesturing to the box make the audience laugh and build up excitement. The Master tries to find a volunteer from the audience to enter the box, but finds herself being bundled in by the other two mischievous magicians. Swords are clashed together and shown to the audience to prove the genuine solid steel.
The swords are pushed into the box, and then the box is turned around for the audience to marvel at all six. Concern spreads over the faces of the two magicians as they listen and hear nothing from inside the box. The swords are rapidly removed, and the top door opened. No-one is there!
As the Stupid magician reaches in she finds the Master’s shirt and tie, the Flirtatious magician finds the Master’s trousers. They look around and quickly grab the Master’s hat and make a puppet to parade around trying to conceal their concern.
The audience want to see inside the other door of the box? When it is opened the Master appears in a sparkly outfit with a big smile.
Relief and pride as the piece ends with a bow.
Staley Bridge |
