Interlude is a stage illusion where one person appears to pass through the torso

Torso

Trunk or torso is an anatomical term for the central part of the many animal bodies from which extend the neck and limbs. The trunk includes the thorax and abdomen.-Major organs:...

 of another (the effect is also referred to as the "A Frame"). Invented by Jim Steinmeyer

Jim Steinmeyer

Jim Steinmeyer is an internationally respected designer of magical illusions and theatrical special effects. His best known illusions include Origami, Interlude, and Walking Through a Mirror. He is also an author, consultant and producer....

 with collaboration of John Gaughan

John Gaughan

John Gaughan is a manufacturer of magic acts and equipment for magicians based in Los Angeles, California. His style of work is classic, not based heavily on machinery and technology....

 and Jonathan Pendragon, and was originally staged, choreographed and performed by The Pendragons, it has since become a part of many illusionists' routines, including David Copperfield

David Copperfield (illusionist)

David Copperfield is an Emmy Award-winning American illusionist, and was described by Forbes as the most commercially successful magician in history. Copperfield's network specials have been nominated for 38 Emmy Awards and won a total of 21 Emmys...

 and Siegfried & Roy

Siegfried & Roy

Siegfried & Roy are two German-American former entertainers who became known for their appearances with white lions and white tigers....

.

The basic effect

Interlude consists of a vertical frame, which encloses the magician up to just below his arms. Struts extend out from either side, ending in handles for the magician to grip, so that his arms are stretched out. The frame is vertically divided into two sections, a lower one reaching up to his knees, and an upper one from his thighs to his mid chest. The lower section remains open during the illusion, and the audience can see through it, between the magician's legs, and through the corresponding opening at the back. The upper section, which encloses his torso and upper legs is also open at front and back, but in the course of the illusion a screen is placed over the front opening. An assistant then steps behind the magician, and pushes through from back to front, through the screen, apparently passing completely through the magician.

Notable variations

Siegfried & Roy

Siegfried & Roy

Siegfried & Roy are two German-American former entertainers who became known for their appearances with white lions and white tigers....

's performance (which had an arachnid

Arachnid

Arachnids are a class of joint-legged invertebrate animals in the subphylum Chelicerata. All arachnids have eight legs, although in some species the front pair may convert to a sensory function. The term is derived from the Greek words , meaning "spider".Almost all extant arachnids are terrestrial...

 theme, complete with an assistant in a red catsuit

Catsuit

A catsuit is a close-fitting one-piece garment that covers the torso and the legs, and frequently the arms. They are usually made from stretchable material, such as lycra, chiffon, spandex , leather, latex, PVC, or velour, and frequently close using a zipper at the front or back.Catsuits, which...

with a spider's web design) followed the assistant's passage through the frame and magician by having a tiger jump from the front of the frame - apparently produced from the magician's chest.

The screen which covers the magician's torso is generally either paper, or a stretchy fabric. The former variant allows the assistant to violently punch through, or burn away the screen.
There are also magicians who do it without a frame, and use specially made clothing to create the effect.