With the best-selling success of the Harry Potter books - kids and adults alike will be familiar with them -- the following makes a logical tie-in to a popular phenomenon.
One of the series of books is entitled Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.
And, not surprisingly, this routine is titled:
The Sorcerer's Stone
Effect: The magician relates a tale of ancient alchemists trying to find the Sorcerer's Stone, which would turn base metals into gold. Showing three stones, he puts two in his hand and one in his pocket; when he opens his hand, the three stones have appeared there.He repeats this. The third time, he puts one stone in his hand and the other two in his pocket; when he opens his hand, the stone has turned to gold. Both hands are empty.
Working: This is a dressed-up version of the old two in the hand, one in the pocket routine.
You'll need four stones - any pebbles will do, as long as they look approximately the same - and a gold nugget. Don't worry, you don't need an actual gold nugget (although I do use a bar of gold from a pendant!); a fifth stone, spray-painted gold will do, or a fake gold nugget from a piece of costume jewellery. The gold is in your right pocket, three of the stones are on the table, and the fourth is concealed in your right hand. Pick up one stone with your right hand and toss it into your obviously empty left hand; pick up the second stone and toss it into your left hand, too, secretly adding the stone concealed in your right hand. Pick up the third stone from the table with your right hand and pretend to put it into your right pocket, secretly palming it. Open your left hand and show the three stones have magically come together. Repeat, but this time, when you put the last stone in your pocket, leave it there and palm the gold. The third time, pick up one stone and pretend to toss it into your left hand, actually switching it for the gold (the Bobo switch). Pick up the other two and put them in your pocket. When you bring your hand out, casually show that it is empty. Open your left hand and show that the stone there has magically turned into gold.
Presentation: "For centuries, ancient alchemists sought something called the Sorcerer's Stone, which was believed to be able to turn base material into gold.
"But, in our scientific world today, we know that there is no such thing - or maybe there is.
"These three stones on the table may look normal but - is it possible? - they may actually have ancient, mystical powers.
"Watch carefully as I put two into my hand and one in my pocket.
"And yet, the stones - even though they were separated - magically come together again. (Open left hand)
"Let me show you that again. (Repeat, this time palming the gold from your pocket.)
"But, while this may appear magical, it is still not what the ancient alchemists were looking for.
"They wanted a single stone (pick up stone and, as you toss it into the left hand, switch it for the gold) that would create a precious metal, like gold. (Put the other two stones in your pocket, casually showing your right hand now empty.)
"That magical stone would be the Sorcerer's Stone - and would have the power of creating untold wealth, in the form of gold." (Open your left hand and drop the gold on the table.)
Second thoughts: This could be done with any stones, although I use rough core slicings of iron pyrites (fool's gold).
If you want to produce something else - a diamond, for example - you could use a fake diamond for the final load and pieces of quartz as the other four stones (You can probably get quartz chunks at hobby shops, that sell rock samples.)
