Two metal bowls and a seemingly inexhaustible supply of water gave Jeff McBride a memorable victory on Penn & Teller: Fool Us. In “The Rainmaker,” the bowls repeatedly fill with water, creating a mystery that Penn & Teller could not solve during his appearance.
The performance appeared in Season 4, Episode 8, “I Dream of Genie Tube,” which originally aired on September 7, 2017. This featured video revisits McBride’s presentation of one of his signature pieces.
The effect has an immediately understandable premise: water continues to appear where there seemingly should be none. McBride presents the recurring productions as the work of a mysterious unseen force, giving the action a story beyond the objects themselves.
His appearance also included a statement about his approach to the art: “Magic is not always a puzzle to be solved, but sometimes a mystery to be experienced.”
That philosophy offers an interesting way to consider “The Rainmaker.” The repeating image of water returning to the bowls gives the audience time to absorb the impossibility. For magicians, the combination of a clear effect and a larger theme provides something to think about when shaping their own presentations.
McBride’s interest in theatrical magic runs throughout his career. His stage work combines masks, mime, storytelling, and sleight of hand, and he has headlined at Caesars Magical Empire in Las Vegas. He is also the author of The Show Doctor, sharing his experience with other performers.
Teaching is another substantial part of his work. McBride founded the Magic & Mystery School in Las Vegas, whose programs address performance technique, magic theory, and philosophy. The school has been teaching since 1991, helping place his television appearance within a much longer career as both performer and educator.
“The Rainmaker” brought that combination of theatrical thinking and magical invention to the Fool Us stage—and secured a win against two of magic’s most knowledgeable observers.
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