Six quick effects. Only two sponges are needed.
This routine can be performed with any type of sponge ball of reasonable size. In an emergency, you may even use two crumpled bills.
This is a strong routine and the final climax in the spectator's hand is the high point. Practice each section and then combine them into a smooth routine. Many of the moves are standard and you may already know them. It's one thing to know moves. It's another to routine them.
Routines with sponge balls have an undeniable audience appeal. The Ray Grismer routine is one designed with the table-hopping performer in mind. Using just two sponges - nothing additional is needed - you'll be able to perform a quick and very strong six-phase routine requiring only the most basic sleight of hand.
Starting with the production of a sponge from empty hands, the routine moves quickly into a vanish and reproduction. This is followed by a sequence in which the single sponge jumps back and forth, and then multiplies into two in a visual sequence credited to Dr. Sawa. The sponge then leaps from one hand to join the other, and the routine climaxes with one sponge joining the other in the spectator's hand.
This is practical and clever material for the working magician - no angles, and the complete routine can be done while standing.
1st edition 1981, 7 pages; PDF 4 pages.
word count: 1326 which is equivalent to 5 standard pages of text