Hanging from a tube are four pompons. Each pompon is a different colour and all four seem to be interconnected. Pulling on one of these causes another to move. But the more you demonstrate it, the more illogical the mechanism at work here becomes. The audience buys all this, and after a minute or two, is forced to concede defeat. The only explanation anyone can come up with is that inside the tube there’s a sophisticated device which makes it all possible. Shatter that illusion too by splitting the tube in half, showing it to be empty, clicking it back together again and continuing where you left off as if nothing had happened. An unusual and highly entertaining trick.

Dead easy to do. This ingenious gadget comes complete with a patter routine from its inventor: Ali Bongo.