This is an old skit that just never seems to lose it ability to amuse. It can teach a million and one different things but we used it to teach about Keeping Your Promises. It is based upon the idea of a silly volunteer confusing a bandana (handkerchief) for a banana. The volunteer needs to be someone that isn’t afraid to get very gross indeed.
Needed:
2 bananas
Bandana (preferably yellow)
Very goofy costume for volunteers
Magician costume
Small table
Blanket
Lesson:
On table have a bandanna.
A Magician and a second person comes out. Magician is bragging endlessly about how good he is at Christian Illusions.
Magician: I have really been honing my craft and I feel that now I am REALLY good at Christian illusions. REALLY GOOD. Better than any other! I am now better than Houdini or David Copperfield or ANYBODY ELSE!
Magician assistant: Oh yeah! I have seen a LOTS of magicians… what makes you special?
Magician: Well, I’m so good that I don’t even have to touch the trick. I can just tell someone what to do and it just happens.
Magician assistant: Can it be anyone at all?
Magician: Oh yes, anyone at all. It doesn’t matter their skill level. I can cover myself with a blanket and face the back wall and you get just anyone that you want to do the trick and I will walk them through it. In fact, I am so confident of my abilities that I will give you $10 if this does not come out exactly as I anticipate.
HE IS COVERED WITH A BLANKET AND FACES THE OTHER DIRECTION
Volunteer comes in looking like a complete goofball and carrying two bananas. The kids will probably laugh but the magician already is blindfolded at this point and doesn’t know any better.
MAGICIAN ASSISTANT PICKS THE GOOFBALL TO BE THE VOLUNTEER. VOLUNTEER LAYS HIS BANANAS ON THE TABLE ALONGSIDE THE BANDANA.
MAGICIAN: Pick up the bandanna . . .
VOLUNTEER PICKS UP A BANDANNA AND ALSO A BANANA, LOOKS AT THEM, AND SCRATCHES HIS HEAD.
VOLUNTEER: What color is it?
MAGICIAN: What color? It doesn’t matter! But it is yellow… just grab it and let’s get going!
VOLUNTEER PUTS THE BANDANNA DOWN AND KEEPS THE BANANA.
VOLUNTEER: Can I eat it?
MAGICIAN: EAT IT?! Why would anyone ever want to eat a bandana? Are you crazy? NO! Now, hold the bandana in your right hand . . . (Volunteer does.)
MAGICIAN: Fold the four corners of the bandanna back. . .
VOLUNTEER ACTS EXTREMELY PUZZLED BUT EVENTUALLY PEELS THE BANANA ONE PIECE AT A TIME.
MAGICIAN: One important thing to know about a bandana is that it can be folded very small so that it can be carried anywhere. Fold the bandana in half . . .
VOLUNTEER RELUCTANTLY FOLDS THE BANANA IN HALF.
MAGICIAN: Now, fold it in half again. Itʼs really amazing how many times a bandana can be folded.
FROM HERE ON, THE VOLUNTEER FOLLOWS ALONG BUT WITH GRAVE RESERVATIONS.
MAGICIAN: Once itʼs folded, it easily fits in a personʼs back pocket. Show them.
MAGICIAN: actually I am getting ahead of myself a little but… Bandanas are truly amazing things… so before we finish this illusion, allow me to demonstrate the versatility of this amazing object.
MAGICIAN: Your bandana can be used in place of a belt to hold your pants up. Slip through the belt loops. Show everyone.
VOLUNTEER USES ONLY THE BANANA PEEL AND STARTS TO FEED IT INTO HIS BELT LOOPS
MAGICIAN: Bandanas also make great blindfolds. Cover your eyes with your bandana and show everyone what a great blindfold it makes!
MAGICIAN: You can also use a bandana to wipe your sweaty forehead when you get hot. Wipe your forehead with the bandana. In fact wipe it several times being sure to wipe your entire forehead.
MAGICIAN: And you know, in addition to wiping the sweat off of your forehead, you can wipe your armpits with a bandana to really get some of the sweat off of you. Wipe each of your armpits and enjoy the relief you feel when youʼre not so drippy.
MAGICIAN: You can even shine your shoes with a bandana. Show them how easy that is.
MAGICIAN: If it is sunny, you can put your bandana on your head to protect yourself from the rays of the sun. Now carefully spread the bandana on top of your head
MAGICIAN: You can use it to dry your hands.
MAGICIAN: If you need to sit on the ground, you can put it beneath you and sit on it.
MAGICIAN: Now, one thing that everyone knows is that a bandana can be used for blowing your nose. Go ahead, Volunteer, blow your nose into the bandana.
MAGICIAN: SEE! Isn’t a bandanna a wonderful thing? Now let’s get back to the magic trick.
VOLUNTEER: UH… But…. Can I use a different one?
MAGICIAN: WHAT?! Why would you want to do that?
VOLUNTEER: Uh… this one is kind of messed up. I’m sorry…
MAGICIAN: MESSED UP?! What have you done? How can you mess up a bandana? Did you tear it?
VOLUNTEER: Uh… yeah. Kind of.
MAGICIAN: Oh whatever, I don’t care, sure. Get another one.
VOLUNTEER GETS ANOTHER BANDANA
MAGICIAN: once again I need you to fold the four corners of the bandanna back. . .
MAGICIAN: Now, listen carefully. This is the crucial moment. Drop the four corners.
VOLUNTEER PEELS THE BANANA AND DROPS THE PEEL TO THE FLOOR.
MAGICIAN: Wad the bandana into a very very tight ball.
MAGICIAN: Now stuff it into your left fist, and don’t let any of it show . . .
VOLUNTEER THEN CRAMS THE BANANA INTO HIS LEFT FIST, CAUSING THE BANANA TO OOZE OUT BETWEEN HIS FINGERS.
MAGICIAN: Now, I am going to turn around and extend my hands from beneath the blanket. Come forward and place the wadded up bandana into MY HANDS and I will show the audience something amazing!
WHEN THE BANANA IS SQUISHED INTO THE MAGICIAN’S HANDS, THE MAGICIAN GOES “BANANAS”! CONSTERNATION ENSUES!
MAGICIAN IS NOT HAPPY, CREATES A BIG SCENE AND YELLS AT THE VOLUNTEER WHO RUNS OFF.
MAGICIAN ASSISTANT THEN REMINDS MAGICIAN THAT HE DID MAKE A PROMISE AND NO MATTER WHAT HE MUST KEEP HIS PROMISE. THE CHRISTIAN ILLUSION DID NOT GO AS PLANNED BUT THAT DOESN’T CHANGE THINGS.
MAGICIAN GRUDGINGLY HANDS $10 TO MAGICIAN ASSISTANT.
MAGICIAN ASSISTANT GIVES A SMALL 30 SECOND MONOLOGUE ABOUT KEEPING YOUR PROMISES.
HE THAT SWEAR TO HIS OWN HURT AND CHANGE IS NOT IS WHO WILL MAKE IT INTO HEAVEN LIKE IT SAYS IN PSALMS CHAPTER 15 VERSE 4.
