The Dollhouse Illusion

This type of illusion has always been part of the magician's bag of tricks. It is an easy way to produce the assistant. Sometimes the assistant will produce the magician. Although this trick is called the Dollhouse Illusion, it can be painted to resemble a train engine, bus, school house, car, etc.

The performer enters the stage area carrying a part of the dollhouse. The house is in three sections: The roof, the front and side section, and the back with side section. Each piece will be picked up by the performer and shown inside and out. The performer will then put the parts together, forming a dollhouse. The completed house will be three feet tall (at the peak of the roof), two feet wide (the front of the house) and three feet deep (the length of the sides).

Once the house has been assembled, it can be moved around to show that there is no funny business going on. At the performer's command, the roof pops off the house and out steps one or two people depending on the performer's wishes. No trap doors or special stage settings are required for this effect.

The secret:

This effect takes timing and coordination from both the performer and those who are to be magically produced. When the performer enters the stage with one part of the dollhouse, the other two parts are already on the stage. The roof is standing on its end so that the roof peak is facing the audience. In this position, someone could be hiding behind the roof but would be unseen by the audience. The back-side section is leaning up against the peaked roof section. The section carried by the performer is the front-side section. If the stage has curtains, or wings, have the roof section standing near enough that someone could crawl from the wing or curtain to the hiding space behind the roof without being seen.

If the stage has no curtain or wing, then the person who is to be produced must be behind the roof until they are produced. As an alternative, you can drag the roof out, while the person crawls along behind the roof, hidden. Then go back for the next piece and lean it against the roof. Finally, return with the next and last piece of the house.

With the three pieces all on stage, the performer opens the front-side section. The performer shows it front and back, then sets it up, just next to the roof section. Then the performer picks up the back-side section, shows it all around, then places this part next to the front-side section. The performer begins to hook the front section to the side section. (see drawing B) At this point, there will be space between the end section and the house for those who will be produced to crawl into the house unseen. Once the front of the house has been connected and the people have crawled into the house, the performer walks to the rear of the house for the final hookup. Then the performer picks up the roof, shows it all around, then places it upon the house. The house now is fully assembled. (drawing C)

In this position, the person or people to be produced are safely concealed in the house. The performer can shift the house to the center of the stage and spin it around. In moving the house, performer must be careful not to move quickly, since the house occupants must crawl along at the same speed. Remember: When spinning the house around, make sure you spin the house without moving it from its center spot. This way the production person or people only have to remain in one spot while the house spins around them.

When it is time to produce the person or people, the performer can tap on the house. The person or people within only have to stand up. They will lift the roof off the house as they stand. The roof will fly off, back over the rear of the house and out of the way, usually falling flat onto the stage. The performer then disconnects the front of the house so the production person or persons can walk out onto the stage. This action will also reveal that the house is now empty.

This illusion is simply constructed and can be performed by the raw beginner, and also be used by the most accomplished professional. Corrugated cardboard can be used for the house material. Tape can be used to connect the sections together. An elastic band on the front, and another at the back can be used to connect the front-side and back-side sections together during the performance. The roof section simply sits or rests on the top of the assembled house.

This illusion may sound like a simple effect, but astonishes audiences when done with the great showmanship and flair.

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