While I’ve certainly performed the above variants to great success, at the moment I’ve fallen for a particular puzzle-esque presentation using a Mexican puzzle box that is similar to the Mexican Bill Box made by Viking Manufacturing. The only difference is that the box I have is completely opaque. Here’s how the routine plays:
Holding up a small wooden box that has no apparent lid and turning it in his hands, the performer begins:
“I absolutely love puzzles. There’s something really satisfying about being able solve the simple solution to what always seems that it has to be quite complex. This particular puzzle I obtained in one of those stores where everything is fifteen dollars or less. This particular store is packed with imported items from exotic locations. A lot of wooden paperweights and hemp-sewn clothing line the shelves and racks. One particular section I always find of interest is their puzzle shelf. In the back of the store, there is one single shelf with a collection of traditional puzzles made of wood. This small box, stood out from the group. It was the only one of its kind on the shelf of repeated puzzles so for all I knew, someone had miss-shelved it. I picked it up and brought it to a sales person. I asked two questions: First,
‘Is this a puzzle?’ and second, ‘If it is a puzzle, how much?’ She looked at the box for a moment, then back at me, and cautiously responded, ‘I’m not sure, let me ask someone who’ll better be able to answer.’ So she went and got the attention of another sales person working the floor that day. Her answer was that it was in fact a puzzle but she has no idea how to work it, though, a small boy was in the store recently and effortlessly opened and closed the box while she looked on. For five dollars, they sold me the box and I went home to discover its secret.”
The performer passes the box out to a few audience members while continuing, “It’s a really convincing
illusion, isn’t it? It really doesn’t seem like there’s a way in. The issue, though, is that we approach the problem with a traditional paradigm of a normal box. We assume that it has a lid. It doesn’t, at least not in the traditional sense. In a moment I’m going to open the box. If you’d like to know the secret, keep your eyes open, if you don’t want to spoil it for yourself, go ahead and close your eyes for a moment.”
The performer slides the box open effortlessly showing the box empty and silently slides it shut once more.
“Simple. There is a small something inside the box – we’ll come back to that in a moment, I promise. It’s safe to open your eyes if you haven’t already. There is something that fascinates me more than physical puzzles and that’s logic puzzles. These get the mind going in some fantastic ways. What’s most fascinating is a logic puzzle like this…” the performer holds up the puzzle box, “…that has been glued shut. That’s what I’d like to share with you now. A puzzle that has no logical solution.”
Gesturing to two men that had the opportunity to examine the box moments before, they’re invited to the platform. They’re positioned so that one gentleman is on the right of the performer and the other is on the left.
A small table is situated just in front of the performer between the two gentlemen. The small box is placed on this table.
“The two of you have already had a good look at the box, would you join me? Give them a big round of applause as they make their way up here. Here’s how we play the game. In a moment one of you is going to take on the role of a devote truth teller, the other the role of a devote liar. I’d like both of you to choose, secretly, which role you’d like to become. To do that, I’m going to turn away and if you’d like to play the role of the liar, give a thumb up. If you’d like to be the truth teller, give a thumb down. Remember you both can’t be the same thing so if you come at each other with thumbs up or both thumbs down, silently fight it out. If anyone in the audience wants to play along, close your eyes during these next few moments so you leave yourself in the same position as I’m in. Ready? Do that now.”
The two men choose their roles and the performer turns back towards them to explain the rest of the game. “In a moment, I’m going to turn my back again. When I do so, I’d like one of you to reach over and take the puzzle box off my table and hold it behind your back. If you’re not taking the box, I’d like you to also hold your hands behind your back as if you’re holding something. That way, when I turn to face you, I’ll have no way of knowing who has what. Do that now” The performer turns away and the gentleman on the left, from the audience’s perspective, takes the box. Upon getting clearance, the performer turns to face the two gentleman and studies them. “Here’s comes the glued logic: I’m going to ask each of you one question: “Do you have the box?” If you’re the liar, you have to lie. If you’re the truth teller, you must tell the truth. It’s a simple yes or no question. I’m giving you the question now so you can think in your head exactly how you’re going to answer when it comes time to. I find that the liar tends to be most likely to muck up his answer by hesitating or simply giving the wrong one. Don’t be the guy! It’s no pressure, just think about what the answer is given your current role.”
“It’s a common misconception that someone may look you directly in the eye and lie. It’s not true. It’s quite easy, I’ll prove it….” Looking someone directly in the eyes in the front row the performer bolding announces: “I’m really a woman!” Turning back to the audience, “See? It’s easy. Either that or I’m going to be swarmed with questions after the show.”
Shifting attention to the gentleman on the audience’s left the performer states, “I’ll ask you first. Do you have the box, yes or no?” The gentleman, slightly tense, responds, “No.” and relaxes again. Attention is then shifted to the second gentleman and asked, “Do you have the box?” This gentleman responds, “No.”
“Interesting.” The performer quips, “One more time while I look away, I simply want to listen to your responses and take away the visual.” The performer turns and points to the gentleman now to his right, “Do you have the box?”
He responds again, “No.”
“And do you have the box?” the performer asks the second gentleman.
“No.”
The performer turns back, pauses, and concludes, “Logically, and mathematically we’re dealing with an impossible problem when receiving the same answer like this. It’s no fault of those playing; I’ve engineered the game that way.
If you’re playing along make your decisions silently to yourself now. By the way, you both were very good; you both stood your ground and gave little away. However, I believe that you chose to be the truth teller…” the performer gestures towards the second gentleman, “… and you chose to be the liar, which can only mean that you’re holding the box. Cough it up!”
He does.
“What’s interesting is that I had a feeling that whoever chose the role of the liar would also choose to hide the box.
Remember that small something inside the box? Do you remember how the box opens? Go ahead and open it up.
And read what you find on the paper inside.”
The subject opens the box and removes a small piece of folded paper. Once Upon unfolding it reads: “Liar Hides Box”
The performer shakes hands with both and either concludes the presentation and sends the two back to their seats or allows them each to play another round or two.
“Thank you for playing. If you’re still stuck on the logic of the problem, you’re simply going to stick yourself in a situation where there is no solution except that what was done, was done for real. Thank you both again.” The performer leads the crowd in applause for the two players.
Verity
What you’ve just read is my current and formal presentation for the basic “Prevaricator” effect. This routine has the advantage of being free of obfuscation making it easy for the audience to follow while utilizing the theatrically interesting liar/truth teller plot. Additionally, it has a built in fail-safe that not only protects the overall integrity of the routine if something should go wrong but also provides a closing punch that defines the end of the routine.
It should be clear to the reader by now, no doubt, how to identify, which person is the liar and which is the truth teller thus, allowing one to determine who holds the object. What is new here is the prediction ending found inside the box. This is accomplished with a two-way out by use of a traditional billet switch.