Next Meeting: 15 November 2024 | Theme: Avi Yap / Patrick Kun Lecture | Location: NLB Drama Center

LUCKY LADYBUG

“Lucky Ladybug” is in the same vein as effects such as Jim Pace’s “The Web” and ashes on arm, where the spectator experiences something happening on a part of their body.

Unlike “The Web” where the spectator undergoes a kind of a shock in seeing a spider (althought it is a toy spider) appearing on her hand, “Lucky Ladybug” gives the spectator a special sense of wonderment when something as cute and adorable as a colourful ladybug appears on the back of her hand.

In effect, the performer shows 3 cards, each one depicting a tree stump.  He says that it is considered lucky if a person finds a ladybug on a tree stump.

He turns over each of the tree stump cards and on the back of each card is a picture of a ladybug.  One card is place face downwards onto a spectator’s outstretch palm.  He says that sometimes, the ladybug flies away.  Suiting words to action, he turns over the tree stump card on the spectator’s palm to show that the back of the card is now blank.

He says that it is considered even more lucky if the ladybug returns to the tree stump.  Taking the blank card on his hand, the performer asks the spectator to wave her hand over this card. 

When the spectator turns over her hand to wave over the card on the performer’s hand, she suddenly realises that there is a ladybug stuck on the back of her palm.  The performer concludes by saying that the spectator is indeed very lucky.

You receive the 3 cards and a small bag of 20 ladybugs.  The cards are made of plastic and should last for a very long time.  Each of the ladybugs is made of wood and hand painted.  It is very small, like the size of a person’s finger nail.  With its bright red colour and black spots, the ladybug looks really adorable.

You also receive a link to a 18 minutes video tutorial where Joshua Ray takes you through everything you need to know on how to perform this effect.

This is a straight-forward effect, simple to perform, and the spectator experiences a delightful climax when she discovers the cute ladybug on her hand.  In comparison to “The Web”, the spectator gets a very frightening feeling when a menancing spider appears on her hand, much to the delight of the rest of the audience.

For performers who are adapt at sleight-of-hand, they can first show the backs of the tree stump cards empty, then cause a ladybug to appear on each card, and the one in the spectator’s hand to vanish.

The ladybugs are meant to be given away after each performance.  The spectator will want to keep them as they are so adorable.  I understand that refills are available at $5 for 50 ladybugs.  (Rated 5/5 stars)