Introduction

Thank you for choosing Illusions Canada! Originally created and performed in 2001, Chair Up There has evolved since its inception. When I first shared this effect with the magic community, I introduced a simplified method that could be constructed in just a few hours. Over the years, numerous performers have expressed a desire for a version that minimizes the use of black art and allows for the use of a hoop curtain, enabling performances in a surrounded setting. Today, I am excited to present the original method of Chair Up There, addressing all these requests.

Background

Chair Up There emerged as a solution to a long-standing challenge. I admired Dekolta’s Chair illusion but was often dissatisfied with the props used by contemporary performers. A small wooden chair perched on a shiny metal base never resonated with me as a designer, performer, or audience member. While the concept was on the right track, it needed refinement.

My vision involved a chair on a slender table, accompanied by a set of steps that drew the audience’s gaze upward, away from the method. I ensured that the materials were either wood or metal, maintaining a cohesive aesthetic. After building, rehearsing, and performing it, I was thrilled with the outcome.

This illusion debuted in my show “Enchantment,” which toured British Columbia in 2001 to great acclaim. I hope you find as much joy in it as I did.

The Effect

The performance begins with a three-foot-high table featuring a visible set of stairs. The performer ascends the stairs, places a chair atop the table, and holds up a white curtain that conceals the chair. The audience can see beneath the table, above the chair, and through the stair gaps. Moments later, the performer dramatically reveals a beautiful assistant seated on the chair! They may then descend to engage in a magical dance or routine before returning to the platform. The assistant is once again covered by the white curtain and vanishes from the chair.