Fire Flight
by Peter Loughran

View Clip

Effect

The performer invites a spectator up to help him tell the story of the ancient legend of the Phoenix. A small ceramic plate is introduced and placed in front of the spectator on the table. The performer asks to borrow a ring from the spectator. With empty hands the performer introduces a piece of tissue paper and cleanly and openly folds the tissue paper around the spectators ring in open view. The tissue paper now containing the borrowed ring is set onto to the ceramic plate. The performer instructs the spectator to cover the tissue paper and their ring with both hands to make sure nothing enters or is taken away from the plate.

Now the performer with empty hands shows a second piece of tissue paper and rips a long strip off one side and discards the rest. The strip is now folded in such a way that it resembles a paper origami ring. A candle is introduced and the paper origami ring is placed around the center of the candle. The performer again shows his hands empty. A box of matches is introduced and the performer begins to talk about the legend of the Phoenix, an ancient mythical bird that would live for hundreds of years only to burn and then be reborn from the ashes of fire. The performer now strikes a match and asks the spectator to carefully remove their hands guarding the tissue paper with the ring inside, The performer lights the candle then drops the match onto the ceramic plate lighting the tissue paper. The paper burns in a flash and the ring is gone. The performer now at finger tips grabs the edge of the paper origami ring tied around the center of the lit candle and slowly pulls it up towards the candle flame and off the candle. The flame lights the paper origami ring as it is taken off where it burns in a flash between the performer’s fingertips and in its place in between the finger tips of the performer is the borrowed ring.

Alternate Ending: The performer uses the match which lights the tissue paper and it burns in a flash and the ring has vanished. Now the performer lights the paper ring around the center of the candle, and the paper origami ring burns in a flash and in its place is the spectators borrowed ring around the center of the candle!

Important features:

• Extremely visual magic
• The transposition appears to happen in an instant flash of fire
• Only one borrowed ring is used
• No pulls, no threads, and no magnets are used
• Can be done surrounded
• The ring is safe at all times and is never in direct contact with the fire
• Do it standing up or sitting down
• Do it in short sleeves
• No jacket or special clothing is required
• Virtually no set up, and boasts an instant reset
• Practically any type of ring may be used, large or small
• You start clean and finish clean
• Easy to do, and can be learned in minutes
• Great for table hopping, bar magic, busking, and even stage or parlor settings