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In Lizzie's Hand

White, Larry & Kalver, Bruce

(Based on 1 review)
EFFECT: The performer explains that at a recent auction he purchased an old trunk, full of miscellaneous items. While rummaging through the dusty box he found a very interesting letter inside. Apparently, it turned out to be a handwritten letter by Lizzie Borden. The performer then reads the letter to the audience explaining that whenever he does, he gets the strange feeling that Lizzie's presence is looking over his shoulder. The letter explains her side of the infamous story about her and her parents, and as he recites the letter, the performer apparently becomes "possessed" by Lizzie and becomes angrier and angrier. As he reads the last line of the letter, "I just want to be left alone. Maybe the truth will come out but for now I wash my hands of the whole thing," the performer slaps his clean hand onto the letter and when he lifts his palm (which by the way, is still clean) the letter is covered by a huge blood-stained handprint.

Reviews

IanC

Feb 15, 2005

This is a rare beast indeed: a powerful magical effect which comes with a really wonderful story to frame it in. There are no significant technical problems and the end result is truly baffling: it's a great moment when they look at your hand and see - it looks clean, just like the other one. So how DID that huge, bloody print suddenly appear on the letter..?

For those that way inclined (eg, this reviewer), there is ample opportunity here to be seriously dramatic and scary : this is a TRUE story, after all. Ironically, my only very slight criticism also arises from this same point: I want to tell the story with enough detail to make it vivid. But while that happens, there's no magic. Indeed as purchased, the only magic happens at the very end, after a considerable amount of talk. This will not suit everyone's style, and even though reasonably confident in my ability to put across a story, I have felt the need to add in both large photographs for the audience to look at, and another magical effect, in order to balance the narrative. However let none of that detract from the fact that, for the right performer, this is a unique gem.
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