Run Rabbit Run

This brilliant bit of handling was passed on by Jon Gordon of Leeds.

One of the problems with Run Rabbit Run if you are going to hold the prop is that your hand disappears fairly regularly to make the rabbit slide along, and there is also suspicious movement of your elbow! Well, this bit of handling does away with all that!

Firstly, have a look at the back of your prop. On the one we sell, the mechanism for moving the rabbit is a small wooden block.

You may have something similar on your version, or perhaps you can adapt. Next, go to a stationer's and buy a small rubber thimble which is covered in little spines like a hedghog. They are used for repetitive counting, such as banknotes.

Now, fit the thimble over the block. It should look like this:

At this point, your preparation is complete! All you do now is to hold the prop close to your body i.e. actually touching your stomach. If you now move the whole prop from left to right, the rabbit whizzes back and forth! Actually, that is not strictly true: the rabbit remains static and the whole prop moves, but the illusion is that the rabbit is moving - and both your hands are in full view. A good way to achieve this move is to turn your body slightly. You now turn to the left (say) moving the prop as you do so, and say, "Oh, you want a closer look, do you?" The impression you are giving is that you are trying to let them see more of the prop. Try it out in the mirror a few times and you'll see just how effective it is. The rubber thimble acts as a drag on your clothes.

One small point: it's best not to wear a tie when performing this as it tends to get in the way.