Tony Lackner’s Super Chip-Lift creates a routine that tells a modern fable about the ups and downs of a government worker’s career.
The story begins with an election. The people in white suits lose, and the people in red suits win and form a new government.
At that moment, a government worker who has been forgotten for years in a basement file room is suddenly noticed. He complains that no one cared about him – maybe because he was always “on the other side.”
The new government quickly promises him a promotion, but another worker is needed to take his place in the file room. At this point, the red chip rises from under the base and switches places with a white chip inside the tube, as the performer does. The red chip represents this worker.
As the story goes on, the red chip moves up magically, showing how his rank grows because of his loyalty to the party. He becomes a deputy director, then a director, and finally a secretary of state. The red chip reaches the top position.
But then the story takes a turn – another election is held. A small party wins many votes and demands a minister’s seat. Suddenly, the career worker disappears. The red chip disappears as well, and the position is now filled by someone from the green party, with the chip turning green.
At the end of the story, it’s revealed that the hardworking government worker has returned to where he started four years ago – the basement file room. The red chip is back underneath the base.
The performer concludes, “Yes, politics is cruel.”
The effect is similar to Blue Phantom, but it uses a different method. There are no angle issues and no noise. It’s my favorite prop among all my Tony Lackner items.
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