The Lemon Game by Doug Malloy

Effect: Borrow a bill from an audience member. Have him sign his name across the face of the bill so they will recognize it later. Fold the bill up and place it into a small drawstring money bag. Ask the spectator to hold the bag in full view.

Now, for the game! Bring out a stack of giant, laminated “valuable gift cards” worth over $10,000.00! The spectator will have a chance to win one of the valuable prizes. He randomly picks one of the cards, face down. Clip the card onto the stand. Now, show him what he didn’t win. No sports car. No diamond ring. No $10,000.00 in cash. No computer system. No London vacation. Well, what did he win? Give him one last chance to pick either the prize card or his money in the bag. He picks the money.

Ah, well. Ask him to open the bag. He does. Inside is a slip of paper that says, “Congratulations, you are a Winner!” But the money is gone!! Turn over the prize card. It’s a picture of a lemon! What a great prize!! Reach into your case and bring out a bag of lemons. He reaches in and freely selects one.

Bring out a knife and slice open the lemon. There inside is his $50 dollar bill with his signature right across its face! Unbelievable!! What a routine!!

Michael Close “A hunk of magic…Worth your serious consideration… A funny and amazing routine.”

Jeff McBride “One of the finest products to hit the magic community. Absolutely Terrific!”

Dean Dill – ” The most entertaining bill in lemon I’ve ever seen. And believe me, it fools magicians.”

Tony Clark- “A blockbuster routine from beginning to end. A great way to add 7-10 minutes to any act.”

Kevin James- “You won’t get a lemon with lemon game!”

The Lemon Game comes directly from Doug Malloy’s act. It comes absolutely complete: You get the special briefcase (now supplied with an aluminum briefcase) to hold all the props (and acts as a stand for the prize card display), the beautifully laminated giant prize cards, the lemons (in a very special net bag), the knife, the marker, the money bag, the special gimmick, and the complete, step-by-step every-word-included patter. Plus, you also receive a DVD showing you exactly how to perform this super routine. Ten minutes of solid audience participatory entertainment that fits in a briefcase!

Bill in Lemon is a classic effect. Doug Malloy’s routine, titled “The Lemon Game,” is a full 10-12 minute “hunk” for the stand-up magician. The routine goes like this: The magician invites a spectator up on stage and borrows a bill from him. The bill is signed, folded into a small billet, and is placed into a drawstring bag, which the spectator holds. The spectator is now given the opportunity to pick a secret grand prize. The magician brings out a stack of large (8.5 x 13), laminated cards. The magician explains that each card bears the name of a special grand prize. The spectator picks a card. This card is placed in view by slipping it into two clips attached to the magician’s briefcase. The magician shows the gifts the spectator did not pick. They include a sports car, a diamond ring, and $10,000 in cash. The spectator now has a decision. He can keep the bag (which contains his money) or he can trade for the undisclosed prize he has chosen. The spectator (logically) keeps the bag. The bag is opened. The bill is gone and in its place is a piece of paper that states, “You are a winner.” The secret prize is revealed. It is a lemon. The magician removes a bag of lemons from his briefcase. The spectator chooses one. It is cut in half. The halves of the lemon are pulled apart, revealing a rolled up bill inside. The spectator removes the bill and unrolls it. It is his signed bill. The magician gives the two halves of the lemon to the spectator as a souvenir and returns him to his seat.

For $325 Doug provides you with everything you need to perform this routine. You get the briefcase (modified to attach the clips that hold the prize card), the jumbo prize cards, the pouch, the secret something that goes in the pouch, a knife, a Sharpie marker, the gaffed bag of fake lemons, a Tupperware container, a videotape (showing a complete performance and full instructions for the routine), and a cue sheet to remind you of the patter. This is not cheap, but you are getting a professional caliber routine that could go into your act with a minimum amount of work. The routine is very simple; you will merely have to practice the handling and memorize the patter. I especially like the fact that the spectator is given the lemon halves as a souvenir. This will certainly puzzle the wise ones in the audience.

“The Lemon Game” is priced to discourage the merely curious. If you do a stand-up show and you don’t already have a “bill in impossible location” routine in your repertoire, “The Lemon Game” is worth your serious consideration. It is a funny and amazing routine. Recommended.

(Michael Close – Magic Magazine, March 2002)
Text Source: michaelclose.com – click for details

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