Luke Jermay – Rubix Square

Experience the captivating magic of Luke Jermay’s “Rubix Square.” The performance begins with a spectator mixing a Rubik’s Cube, ensuring that the arrangement is entirely unpredictable. Once satisfied, the cube is handed back to the performer, who appears to memorize its configuration at lightning speed, pausing to mutter observations.

Next, the cube is wrapped in a bandana to prevent the performer from seeing it during the upcoming challenge. The performer invites another audience member to set a ‘target time,’ explaining, “The world record is 20 seconds, but my personal best is 78 seconds. I aim to beat that by at least 10 seconds tonight. What time will you choose?”

With the target time established, the spectator is given a stopwatch to track the performance. The performer instructs them to start the timer and call out every ten seconds. He then takes out a board and begins to write numbers in a pattern resembling a Rubik’s Cube, stating, “These calculations relate to how to manipulate the cube.” The stopwatch is started.

As the performer twists a second cube, the spectator calls out the time intervals. Just before the target time expires, the performer halts and places the cube on the table, revealing it is not yet solved.

He then reveals, “I wasn’t solving my cube; I was matching yours.” The two cubes are compared, and to the audience’s astonishment, every side of the cubes matches perfectly, guaranteeing a round of applause.

As the applause fades, the performer approaches the board again, stating, “The calculations weren’t connected to the cube; it was a separate challenge.” He asks the spectator for their target time once more and writes it on the board. To the audience’s amazement, he demonstrates that the numbers on the board, when summed, equal the target time, showcasing the incredible ability to multitask.