Merry Switch Can - 1

by Colin Daines

It’s a well-known principle in magic that if you combine two tricks, you often come up with something unexpected. What we are offering here is not exactly unexpected, but it is a routine which works very well and is simple to operate. Credit for part of the idea must go to a very kind chap, Colin Daines, whom I met at a Peterborough Sale and Exchange Day years ago, and who, incidentally, gave us the wonderful Skip and Snip routine.

He, in turn, had been reading an old magazine, and come across the following clever handling for the Switch Can. So with a passing nod at whoever thought up the thing, and we think it’s Ian Adair, here’s the routine:

You will need:            

• a set of Clown or Teddy or Rabbit silks (one coloured and one black and white)
• a paint brush
• a Merry Switch Can

The Merry Switch Can (named after its originator, Richard Merry) is a wonderful utility prop, which can restore, vanish, produce or transform items placed into it. The underlying secret is a compartment of which the audience is (naturally!) unaware. Make sure that the paint brush you choose actually fits through the hole in the top of the Switch Can. If you want to go the whole hog, try painting the word PAINT on the can, which is an easy job as the whole thing is made of metal. Halfords also sell a transfer of a paint splodge which looks effective.

To prepare: your only preparation is to bundle up the coloured silk and place it in the inner compartment.

Show the paint tin and ‘prove’ it is empty. This is easily done by pulling up the top two compartments, showing the bottom section and leaving it on its side facing the audience. Now show the b/w Clown silk, and explain that you haven’t had time to paint it, but perhaps the children will help you? Place the b/w silk into the base of the can, and replace the top two compartments.

You explain that you need to collect paint, so go around the audience with your brush, saying you need red and yellow etc. which you obtain from the children’s clothing or hair. (Red hair? Well, why not!) As you gather each colour, take it back to the can, holding your hand under the brush as if you are frightened of spilling the paint. Push the brush through the hole in the can and mime shaking off the colour. Eventually, say that you had better look at what’s happened. This is where the clever bit comes in. Leave the brush sticking out of the can as you remove the outermost sleeve of the can only. The brush never leaves the children’s sight as you pull off the top of the can, and the top can now be placed on its side facing the children. There’s no need to point out that it’s empty: the children can see that for themselves.

Pick up the brush, and, rather gingerly, start fluffing up the coloured silk with the brush. I don’t know why this looks effective, but, believe me, it does! So does the next bit: start feeling the silk carefully as you say, “I wonder if it’s dry?” Take your time removing the silk as it all helps to build up the transformation, and, at this point, as you display the coloured silk, invite your audience to give themselves a round of applause.