You knew that he played Dr. Strange, but you had no idea that Benedict Cumberbatch was actually possessed of a little real magic of his own. Of course a lot of people don’t like to know how a magic trick works so some of you might want to turn away as of now and don’t bother reading any more. For those of you that do want to know then keep reading and all will be explained in due time. Needless to say it is an impressive trick but at the end of the day that’s just what it is, a trick.
So to start off with, both Benedict and Jimmy know that the trick is going to be performed and have planned for it in advance. There’s no real reason why the bottle of water has no label but it was considered needed for the trick. Benedict acts surprised that Jimmy would ask him to perform the trick on TV but gladly obliges, claiming that he doesn’t know if it will work a second time without help. This is the first part of the act that depends on showmanship, selling the trick before showing it as Benedict rises to his feet to go join Jimmy behind the desk.
He’s still saying that it might not work as Jimmy sets the cup and the water bottle for him to use. For just a few seconds they go into the difference in how the English and Americans pronounce the word “water” so as to offer up just a little more showmanship, a little bit more of a tease in order to get the audience even further hooked on what’s about to happen. Then Benedict picks up the bottle of water, breaks the seal, and removes the cap. He then places one hand over the top and upends the bottle. Most of the audience, those that haven’t seen the trick before or those that aren’t fully aware of how it works, are holding their breath in anticipation as Benedict slowly slides his hand away from the bottle’s opening, revealing that nothing is coming out.
Benedict holds it there for a moment to show that yes, nothing is coming out. Then he pretends to will it to come out, and if one is watching they can see him squeeze the bottle ever so slightly, and of course the water runs out. He allows some of it to fall into the bottom of the cup before turning it over once again to take a drink, showing the people that it is in fact just plain bottle of water. It is then that he pretends to notice that there is no water in the bottom of the cup. As he and Jimmy both talk over this interesting phenomenon the audience starts to clap, fully impressed with the trick.
But how did they do it?
Like I said, both Benedict and Jimmy were in on the ruse. The cup and the bottle were prepared for this trick, and as Benedict opened the bottle there was already a thin layer of plastic over the bottle’s opening, cut to fit just perfectly. When upended it could withstand the pressure of the water pushing against it, but when Benedict squeezed the pressure became too much. As for the cup, it held a small sponge in the bottom, so the water was absorbed after being poured in.
If you’re disappointed, I did tell you to stop reading early on.
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