Last week I went camping, now for me it was not an enjoyable
experience. First, there is no bathroom and it?s cold. Second, you are out in the middle of nowhere, if something were to happen to you, nobody would know! So, when I go camping I get really paranoid like someone is out there, or worse off in my tent. I feel like I have to check my tent a hundred times before I go to sleep. Let me show you what I mean. (As you are saying this, you begin putting on your camping clothes, a sweater, gloves, and a hat.) The music begins and you start by opening the tent, as you go inside the tent you pick up a camping lantern and turn it on. This will illuminate the inside of the tent showing that it is empty. You then step outside the tent and begin moving slowly around it with the lantern looking for anything lurking around. After you pass around the whole tent you then zip up the front and put the lantern into the top, thus illuminating the tent. A moment later a shadow figure begins to materialize within the tent. Paranoid, you run off the stage. As soon as you are off of the stage, the shadow figure rips off the front of the tent, and to the audience?s amazement it is you, who just ran off stage! You grab the lantern, take a bow, and blow the lantern out. The stage goes black to thunderous applause.

PREPARATION: This is a typical shadow box routine with a twist to
really sock it to the audience. For this effect you will need the following items:

The Shadow Tent
A lantern (battery operated is the best)
2 Matching shirts/sweaters
2 Matching pair of gloves
2 Matching hats/caps
As I am sure you guessed by the above, another person in the same
outfit that you put on in the beginning. (The hat, sweater, gloves) This individual should be of similar built and features i.e.¦ hair, skin tone etc: but does not have to look exactly the same! This person will be know as your Clone

SOLUTION/PERFORMANCE: Before the Shadow Tent is on the stage the secret
Clone is hiding behind the tent. As you begin speaking the
dialogue above, or similar, you begin putting on the camping clothes in
order to match your Clone, this will seem natural because to the
audience you are recreating an experience for them.

IMPORTANT: make sure that you and your accomplice has the same type of shoes, socks, and pants on. If only one of you wears jewelry i.e. watch, earring, rings, etc¦ This should be removed, remember you both need to look as similar as possible!

After you are dressed let the music begin and slowly start unzipping
the front of the tent acting very cautiously. Go inside the tent and grab the lantern and turn it on, this will illuminate the tent showing it empty. Exit the tent walking around it very slowly and cautiously. This will not only allow the audience time to see the lantern through the sides and back of the tent, but will allow you the time to do a very smooth switch off with your Clone. When you come to the rear of the tent, hand off the lantern to your Clone and allow him/her to continue around the tent as you normally would. As your Clone and you switch places he/she should continue with slow movements and walk around the remainder of the tent backwards, one foot behind the other. (So as not to expose their face. This will seem normal because you started going around the tent very methodically and cautiously!) As your Clone comes to the front of the tent, he/she passes the lantern! into the tent one last time showing that it is empty. The Clone then zips up the front of the tent and places the lantern into the top, thus illuminating the tent. (Your accomplice should keep their back to the audience so as not to expose themselves. This will seem natural based on their movements.) As soon as the front of the tent is zipped up you want to enter through the back portion. When the lantern is put into the top begin coming to the front of the tent slowly and moving around. This surprises and scares the audience and you (actually your Clone) and he/she runs off the stage. As soon as he/she is off of the stage you rip off the front showing that the mystery person that you were scared of the entire time was actually yourself. You exit the tent pausing to take a bow, and go back into the tent, grab the lantern and blow it out, letting the lights fade to black. With the correct movements and timing you will sure to have an amazing routine. Timing and switching can be coordinated with the music or slightly! Shaking the tent to cue one another!