Under no illusion

The Magic Festival continues. This is German levitation artist Johan Lorbeer performing Tarzan Standing Leg in the Grassmarket.

I may be wrong (which translates as I am about to say something that is so patently obvious that only an idiot could disagree with me), but I always thought that half the fun of magic shows is being left bamboozled as to how the illusion works. And the rest of the fun comes from trying to work it out in the pub after the show. Nobody really wants to know how Harry Houdini made the elephant disappear.

So I’ve no idea why, mid-performance, Herr Lorbeer announced ‘It’s not magic, it’s technology’, and then proceeded to explain in great detail exactly how it was done. He should be chucked out of the Magic Circle. And have his wand removed.

Chris Martin does better levitation here.