Impaled (illusion)

Impaled is a classic stage illusion in which a performer appears to be impaled on or by a sword or pole. The name is most commonly associated with an illusion that was created by designer Ken Whitaker in the 1970s and which is sometimes also referred to as "Beyond Belief" or "Impaled Beyond Belief". This version has become part of the stage magic repertoire and has been performed by many of the world's most famous magic acts.

Australian-born magician Les Levante (1892-1978) is also credited with devising an impalement illusion but this was different from Whitaker's.

Presentations of the effect vary but a typical one is as follows. The magician presents a stand, placed stage centre, which supports a sword in a vertical position with the sharpened tip pointing upwards. An assistant is introduced and the magician (sometimes with the help of additional assistants) picks her up and balances her in a supine position on the tip of the sword. The assistant holds her body rigidly horizontal and the small of her back rests on the tip of the sword. The magician then grasps the assistant's feet and rotates her on the sword tip. After spinning freely for a few turns the assistant sinks downwards, as if she has been impaled. As she drops her body goes limp so that she appears to hang lifelessly. The magician then appears to revive her with a kiss or with some magical gesture before lifting her from the sword and placing her back on her feet so that she can be seen to be unharmed.

David Copperfield performs the illusion on himself, as did Wayne Dobson and Simon Drake. The Pendragons' performance is particularly noted, and is presented as being a "balancing feat". After being impaled, Charlotte is revived by a kiss, in the manner of Sleeping Beauty. It is also noted for the brevity of her costume, which is apparently intended to suggest the impossibility of the illusion.

There were several variations co-developed by Ken Whitaker & Craig Browning, which include;

The Water Fount was built atop the original Whitaker fountain used in the Spellbinder rock-n-roll show where Impaled was first performed. Most of the adaptation to this version was done by Craig Browning, which included a rather lengthy routine composed on a "walking on water" and "suspension" prelude to the slow-motion penetration of a central cascading fountain through the torso... the performer being able to push his hand down through the cascade and out the back-side of the young lady and more. The fountain routine was created for the Browning show and due to unfortunate events, the main bowl of the fountain was destroyed and the effect never resurrected via Creative Illusion though Owens Magic seems to have produced a version; it is unknown if they are employing the same or similar methods of operation.

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