It’s good to know that the talent on Britain’s Got Talent are practising their waves for the royal family, but I’m quite concerned how Patsy May managed this one. Cough. (As a sidenote, you’ve seen nothing if you haven’t seen Peter Jackson’s Meet the Feebles.)
In all seriousness, I’m pleased that puppetry features on BGT this year – I’m about sick to death with magicians, dancers and singers (okay, Patsy sings, but at least it’s through puppetry) and anything that’s vaguely different to that is a welcome break from the norm.
The person behind Patsy is a bit of a mystery, and that’s a shame, as I’d really like to see her do other characters as well. When you look at all the other puppetry acts, the performer usually has two or three major characters on the go, with a multitude of minor ones as well.
However, Patsy May as a character, has potential and I’m pretty sure we’ll still see her around on TV.
I’d like to see Patsy May go on to the finals[*]. Also the Polish guy who dresses up all in black and does full body puppets (although he needs to work on mouth and facial features otherwise the characters appear to be just animated corpses).
[*] Bugger. Have just watched the results – she didn’t make it. But a magician who performs well established illusions went through instead (although he does it very well).
The principals behind the chair illusion are explained if you’ve watched enough of Magic’s Biggest Secrets Revealed.
I’m not saying that this is how Darcy actually carried off the illusion, but very likely used some of the principals mentioned here:
as well as a few other techniques.
Note that in Darcy’s version, pay careful attention to the side of the staircase when the camera pans around the stage before the illusion begins. Hmm (strokes chin). Could you not fit somebody inside that staircase? Perhaps a certain somebody looking to get away from the stage when the chair has been covered up and just before the stage is moved into position?
Note that the cameraman does not begin to move behind the stage until the chair is covered, the stairs are moved away, and the stage is brought forward. That plays a vital part in the illusion,
All I will say is pay close attention to the stagehands at the back the stage when the stairs are removed.
