Predicament escape
Encyclopedia
A predicament escape is any form of magic trick or escapology
stunt in which the performer is trapped in a dangerous situation and is required to escape from it. Classic examples include the Table of Death
, Houdini's Chinese Water Torture Cell
, Princess Tenko
's escape from an exploding boat and the Upside Down Suspended Straitjacket
escape, in which a performer is suspended high in the air from a burning rope.
While many such feats are pure and simple escape acts performed for real, the predicament escape is also employed as a set-up or theme for certain illusions. These can end either with the performer emerging from the escape prop or appearing magically at another point in the performance space. Examples include a trick in which Melinda Saxe
escaped from a tank filled with snakes during the 1998
television special The World's Most Dangerous Magic
and a performance in the sequel show the following year in which the magician Margo
was shackled in a coffin filled with rats and escaped to re-appear from behind the audience.
When performed by a female artist, these types of stunts sometimes involve aspects of the damsel in distress
archetype, although with the damsel rescuing herself rather than waiting for a hero to come to her aid.
is sometimes classified in this way. Another example is a stunt performed by Paul Daniels
in which he was placed in a crate in the path of a race car, later emerging as the driver of the car after it had smashed through the crate. The Drill of Death
illusion can also be presented as an "escape gone wrong".
Another variant on the "escape gone wrong" illusion ends without the performer re-appearing. Such a trick was performed by Paul Daniels on the halloween
edition of his BBC
television show in 1987
. He was chained up in an iron maiden
type device where a set of spikes were set to close on him after a timer ran out. The broadcast showed the spikes closing on him before he had appeared and then the titles rolled. It was only revealed later that he was all right and the intended effect of the trick had been to shock viewers.
trick, where the magician is trapped in a cabinet and required to escape from it. Often, the magician can be bound in handcuffs
, rope and sacks before being placed in the cabinet. A cabinet escape involves the audience seeing the person come out of the cabinet unassisted.
Escapology
For the Jessica Mauboy song, see Inescapable.Escapology is the practice of escaping from restraints or other traps. Escapologists escape from handcuffs, straitjackets, cages, coffins, steel boxes, barrels, bags, burning buildings, fish-tanks and other perils, often in combination.-History:The art...
stunt in which the performer is trapped in a dangerous situation and is required to escape from it. Classic examples include the Table of Death
Table of death
The table of death is a predicament escape that is alternately considered as falling into the categories of a magic trick or an act of escapology.-Description:...
, Houdini's Chinese Water Torture Cell
Chinese Water Torture Cell
The Chinese Water Torture Cell is a predicament escape made famous by Hungarian-American magician Harry Houdini. The illusion consists of three parts: first, the magician's feet are locked in stocks; next, he is suspended in mid-air from his ankles with a restraint brace; finally, he is lowered...
, Princess Tenko
Princess Tenko
Princess Tenko is the stage name of , a pop singer turned magician specialising in grand illusions. Her name is taken from , a male Japanese magician who was managed by the same person as Mariko and to whom Mariko was apprenticed in 1976. The older Tenko passed his mantle to her before he died at...
's escape from an exploding boat and the Upside Down Suspended Straitjacket
Straitjacket
A straitjacket is a garment shaped like a jacket with overlong sleeves and is typically used to restrain a person who may otherwise cause harm to themselves or others. Once the arms are inserted into the straitjacket's sleeves, they are then crossed across the chest...
escape, in which a performer is suspended high in the air from a burning rope.
While many such feats are pure and simple escape acts performed for real, the predicament escape is also employed as a set-up or theme for certain illusions. These can end either with the performer emerging from the escape prop or appearing magically at another point in the performance space. Examples include a trick in which Melinda Saxe
Melinda Saxe
Melinda Saxe is a magician from Las Vegas, Nevada, best known for network television performances and Las Vegas stage shows in which she was billed as "The First Lady of Magic". She is often associated with the "Drill of Death" illusion which was a signature trick developed for her by Andre Kole...
escaped from a tank filled with snakes during the 1998
1998 in television
The year 1998 in television involved some significant events.Below is a list of television-related events in 1998.For the American TV schedule, see: 1998–99 United States network television schedule.-Events:-Debuts:-1950s:...
television special The World's Most Dangerous Magic
The World's Most Dangerous Magic
The World's Most Dangerous Magic was the title of two American television specials showcasing illusion and escapology acts, which were made for the NBC network...
and a performance in the sequel show the following year in which the magician Margo
Margo (magician)
Margo is the screen and stage name of Margo Timon a magic performer and actress who had a starring slot in the NBC network television special The World's Most Dangerous Magic II. She has also worked with the highly respected duo The Pendragons....
was shackled in a coffin filled with rats and escaped to re-appear from behind the audience.
When performed by a female artist, these types of stunts sometimes involve aspects of the damsel in distress
Damsel in distress
The subject of the damsel in distress, or persecuted maiden, is a classic theme in world literature, art, and film. She is usually a beautiful young woman placed in a dire predicament by a villain or monster and who requires a hero to achieve her rescue. She has become a stock character of fiction,...
archetype, although with the damsel rescuing herself rather than waiting for a hero to come to her aid.
"Escape gone wrong"
One sub-variant, sometimes known as "escape gone wrong" tricks, are presented initially as escape acts but then appear to go wrong, giving the audience the impression the performer must have been killed or badly injured. The artist uses illusion techniques to re-appear unharmed. The Table of DeathTable of death
The table of death is a predicament escape that is alternately considered as falling into the categories of a magic trick or an act of escapology.-Description:...
is sometimes classified in this way. Another example is a stunt performed by Paul Daniels
Paul Daniels
Paul Daniels, born Newton Edward Daniels on 6 April 1938, is a British magician and television performer. He achieved international fame through his television series The Paul Daniels Magic Show, which ran on the BBC from 1979 to 1994.-Early life:...
in which he was placed in a crate in the path of a race car, later emerging as the driver of the car after it had smashed through the crate. The Drill of Death
Drill of Death
The Drill of Death is a large-scale stage illusion in which a performer appears to be impaled on a giant drill. It was created by magician André Kole and illusion designer Ken Whitaker for magician Melinda Saxe. It was one of Saxe's signature tricks and featured as a highlight in her various First...
illusion can also be presented as an "escape gone wrong".
Another variant on the "escape gone wrong" illusion ends without the performer re-appearing. Such a trick was performed by Paul Daniels on the halloween
Halloween
Hallowe'en , also known as Halloween or All Hallows' Eve, is a yearly holiday observed around the world on October 31, the night before All Saints' Day...
edition of his BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
television show in 1987
1987 in television
The year 1987 in television involved some significant events.Below is a list of television-related events in 1987.For American TV schedule, see: 1987–88 United States network television schedule.-Events:-Debuts:...
. He was chained up in an iron maiden
Iron maiden (torture device)
An iron maiden is a torture device, consisting of an iron cabinet, with a hinged front, sufficiently tall to enclose a human being. It usually has a small closeable opening so that the torturer can interrogate the victim and torture or kill a person by piercing the body with sharp objects , while...
type device where a set of spikes were set to close on him after a timer ran out. The broadcast showed the spikes closing on him before he had appeared and then the titles rolled. It was only revealed later that he was all right and the intended effect of the trick had been to shock viewers.
Cabinet escape
The cabinet escape is the classic escapologyEscapology
For the Jessica Mauboy song, see Inescapable.Escapology is the practice of escaping from restraints or other traps. Escapologists escape from handcuffs, straitjackets, cages, coffins, steel boxes, barrels, bags, burning buildings, fish-tanks and other perils, often in combination.-History:The art...
trick, where the magician is trapped in a cabinet and required to escape from it. Often, the magician can be bound in handcuffs
Handcuffs
Handcuffs are restraint devices designed to secure an individual's wrists close together. They comprise two parts, linked together by a chain, a hinge, or rigid bar. Each half has a rotating arm which engages with a ratchet that prevents it from being opened once closed around a person's wrist...
, rope and sacks before being placed in the cabinet. A cabinet escape involves the audience seeing the person come out of the cabinet unassisted.