The Wringer (also "wringer box illusion" or "
mangle
Mangle can refer to:
* Mangle (machine), a mechanical laundry aid consisting of two rollers
* Box mangle, an earlier laundry mangle using rollers and a heavy weight
* Mangled packet, in computing
* Mangrove, woody trees or shrubs
* Name mangling, ...
box") is a
stage magic
Magic, which encompasses the subgenres of illusion, stage magic, and close up magic, among others, is a performing art in which audiences are entertained by tricks, effects, or illusions of seemingly impossible feats, using natural means. It ...
trick. The magician places his assistant (or a
shill
A shill, also called a plant or a stooge, is a person who publicly helps or gives credibility to a person or organization without disclosing that they have a close relationship with said person or organization. Shills can carry out their operatio ...
from the audience) into a large box with a set of rollers in the front. The magician turns a crank, and the assistant emerges through the rollers, now flat as a pancake. The magician then opens the front of the box, revealing it to be empty. The magician may later restore the assistant, though this is not required. This trick can also be performed with small animals, such as ducks or rabbits.
References
*Dawes, A. E., et al. ''Making Magic''. London: Multimedia Books, Ltd, 1993.
{{Magic-stub
Magic tricks