I've many strange concepts for magic acts. Some make immediate sense like gambling routines, children's magic sets and billiards for manipulation acts. Others are more off-the-wall. One my favorite was an act based on Steven King's novel Needful Things (published under the same title by “The Coven”, © 1993 Krypts Quarterly Crier). The idea of doing an act out of a medicine cabinet is pretty far out there.

I suppose if you work in the medical field, it would make perfect sense, though. I remember when “Safety Magic” was all the rage. It might have worked for those folks.

But I'm a sucker for magic that uses everyday objects. So while I may not buy into the idea of carrying around a medicine cabinet, having these routines on hand for home- or hotel-based venues could turn you into a miracle-worker.

So let's talk about the routines.

Band-Aid and Comb - A pretty standard paddle routine with combs. You use the Band-Aids as your “dots”. There's one inherent problem with the method. Most combs, including the ones on the DVD, are not symmetrical about the handle axis. So doing a move where you supposedly remove the spot by turning over the comb, doesn't work. There's a very obvious change in the direction the bristles are facing.

Bayer Jumbo Aspirin - A gag where you produce two huge Aspirin tablets for your “big” headache. It's kinda funny and fairly deceptive.

Pill Box - Have you ever wondered what an Okito box is supposed to be? It's an old-time pill box. So here's a routine that uses a pill box with pills. The best part is Fantasio's story of Okito showing it to him for the first time.

Vick Sinus Cap - Use the caps off of nose spray to do a thimble routine. This idea could save your butt the next time you're asked to perform in someone's home and don't have anything on you.

Gauze and Tape - Ring and string with a piece of gauze and the outer ring from a medical tape roll. The “ring” is a bit awkward if you're used to using a standard ring.

Q-Tips - Trying to figure out how to do a cigarette manipulation act without getting disgusting looks from the audience? Yeah, Q-Tips. If you come up with a clever storyline, let me know.

Dental Floss - The Gypsy Thread. Need I say more?

Roll-On - Ball and Vase with roll-on deodorant? OK, that's just weird.

Stick Deodorant - I didn't think it would get any weirder than Roll-On, but it did. It turns out many standard stick deodorant containers are just the right size to fit a deck of cards. The “wheel” which makes the deodorant rise apparently works on cards.

Mirror - I did not see that coming! Take the mirrored door off of the cabinet by removing the rod that serves as a hinge. Put the door in a cloth bad and do the Needle-Thru-Mirror effect using the hinge rod as the needle.

Bonus - Wonderful footage of Fantasio's act in the mid-60s.