Vivisectioned By Mark Parker

A MODERN CIRCULAR APPARATUS IS DISPLAYED BY THE PERFORMER ON STAGE. THE PERFORMER INTRODUCES HIS ASSISTANT & SHE ENTERS THE APPARATUS FROM THE REAR, PUSHING HER HEAD OUT OF THE TOP WHERE IT WILL REMAIN FOR THE DURATION OF THE ILLUSION.

A FRONT PANEL PREVIOUSLY RESTING AGAINST THE FRAME IS LIFTED AWAY SHOWING THE GIRL’S LOWER LEGS OUTSIDE OF THE CIRCULAR FRAME. THE UPPER LEGS & TORSO ARE SEEN TO BE COMPLETELY INSIDE THE CIRCULAR FRAME. THE PANEL IS NOW LOCKED INTO POSITION, THUS COVERING THIS VIEW.

AT THIS POINT THE ASSISTANT’S FINGERS ARE SEEN TO PROTRUDE THROUGH A SMALL APERTURE ON THE PANEL FACE. AGAIN, THESE WILL REMAIN IN FULL VIEW THROUGHOUT THE PERFORMANCE.

BEFORE CONTINUING FURTHER, THE PERFORMER SWITCHES ON TWO RINGS OF STRONG LED LIGHTS FITTED ON THE INSIDE FACE OF THE CIRCULAR FRAME FULLY ILLUMINATING THE AREA AROUND THE ASSISTANTS’ BODY. BY DOING THIS IT FACILITATES A COMPLETE SEE-THROUGH AREA AT ALL TIMES, THE PERFORMER WALKS AROUND THE BACK OF THE ILLUSION TO DEMONSTRATE THIS FURTHER.

THE PERFORMER INTRODUCES TWO METAL BLADES & SHOWS THEM TO BE SOLID. MUCH THE SURPRISE OF THE AUDIENCE HE INSERTS ONE AT GREAT SPEED INTO HER NECK AREA, APPARENTLY SLICING OFF THE ASSISTANT’S HEAD. THE SECOND BLADE IS INSERTED JUST ABOVE THE KNEES TO SLICE THIS AREA.

AFTER A SHORT MOMENT TO ALLOW THE AUDIENCE TO REGISTER FULLY WHAT HAS HAPPENED, THE ASSISTANT’S FINGERS START TO MOVE & SHE RAISES A SMILE. NOT CONTENT WITH THIS, THE PERFORMER TAKES HOLD OF THE FRONT PANEL & ROTATES IT 90 DEGREES CREATING A VERY BAFFLING ILLUSION WHERE HER TORSO & UPPER LEGS ARE COMPLETELY ROTATED AWAY FROM HER HEAD & LOWER LEGS. THE AREAS AROUND THE TORSO ARE AGAIN DEMONSTRATED TO BE COMPLETELY SEE THROUGH..

THE FINAL STAGE OF THIS DISTORTION CONTINUES WITH THE PERFORMER TAKING HOLD OF HER HEAD & PULLING THE WHOLE CIRCULAR FRAME 90 DEGREES IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION, LEAVING HER IN THIS MOST BIZARRE SITUATION.

MARK PARKER CAME UP THIS ILLUSION BACK IN 2003. THE PROBLEM OF DESIGNING A MORE PRACTICAL VERSION OF THE ORIGINAL MASSEY/THURSTON ILLUSION WAS PRESENTED TO HIM DURING A CONVERSATION WITH SCOTT PENROSE PRIOR TO A VISIT TO THE MAGIC CIRCLE HEADQUARTERS IN LONDON, TO VIEW THE ACTUAL THURSTON VIVISECTION ILLUSION APPARATUS ON DISPLAY.
THIS MANUSCRIPT IS A COMPREHENSIVE DESIGN INSIGHT INTO MARKS THOUGHTS ON THIS WONDERFUL ILLUSION. YOU MAY USE IT TO CREATE A DETAILED WORKSHOP PLAN.

THE ORIGINAL ILLUSION WAS INVENTED BY MORRELL MASSEY IN 1933 & WAS PRESENTED TO HOWARD THURSTON UNDER THE NAME OF “HEAD OVER. HEELS”. THURSTON BUILT THE APPARATUS & RE-NAMED IT VIVISECTION.