Mike Bent's Fearless Fred The Daredevil Worm

Here's a classic of magic with a kidshow twist: Silk to apple!

The hit of Mike's summer '06 library show, it's the tale of Fearless Fred; the Daredevil Worm. Fred the worm, decided at an early age that he wanted to be the greatest daredevil that ever lived. He studied biographies of his idol, the famous insect daredevil Evil Boll Weevil.

Explain that before he performs, it's in Fred's contract that he get a delicious apple at the end of every performance, but there can't be any seeds in the apple. So you take out an apple corer and core the apple. Then choose a helper to wrap it in aluminum foil, to keep it fresh until the end of the stunt. Give the apple to another audience member to hold.

Invite three helpers to assist Fred in the stunt. Give the first child a cardboard "cannon," the second a hoop and the third a net. Announce that Fred is going for the world record, and ask the kids to spread out. Explain that Fred will be shot from the cannon, fly through the hoop and land in the net. Load the 6" Fred silk into the cannon and tell the helper to blow on the count of three. One, two, three... Fred only shoots out a few inches and lands on the floor. Explain that she needs to blow harder, and load Fred again. One, two, three... he still doesn't even make the hoop, let alone the net! So you move the hoop closer to the cannon, and the net closer to the hoop. He still doesn't make it. Finally, move the hoop right over the end of the cannon, and move the net right up against the end of the cannon. He can't miss this time! One, two, three... Fred finally makes it into the net -- not quite the record, but not bad for a worm! Ask a helper to take him out of the net. When he does, Fred has vanished from the silk! The silk now reads: "OUT TO LUNCH." Out to lunch? What does a worm eat for lunch? The apple! Show your hands empty and retrieve the foil-wrapped apple, and unwrap it, Fred is inside the apple! It's a new world record!

Comes complete with 6" Fred Silk, 6" Out to Lunch silk, apple corer, hoop, butterfly net, and cardboard for the tubes, and of course that special something that makes it all happen! You also get a CD with sound effects (drum rolls, Tah-Dahs), and Mike's full routine.