It is impossible that this story be about anything other than a 3 ½- minute trick in the Penn & Teller show. It is a very beautiful trick that can’t be fully conveyed with words because it looks so simple: Teller makes a ball come to life. It isn’t a very exciting trick in that no knives, fire or risk are involved. A lot of their tricks have those.
And, to make matters worse, the trick I have the (partial) lowdown on, Penn doesn’t particularly like, or at least not until after he tells the audience how it is done—with a thread—before he walks off stage. And, therefore, yes, that’s right: This is going to be a story about a ball and a string—and Teller.
“A man, a ball, a hoop, a bench (and an alleged thread)… TELLER! - Las Vegas Weekly [1]”
Bunny and I have been watching “Fool Us [2]”, a television show where magicians attempt to fool Penn & Teller [3] for a chance to play Las Vegas [4], but I guess it's also a means to showcase some pretty good magicians. At the end of each show they also perform one of their signature acts, and it's because of this you can see Teller's Red Ball Trick [5]. Even knowing the secret doesn't diminish the skill and artistry involved.
[1] http://lasvegasweekly.com/news/2008/nov/20/man-ball-hoop-bench-and-
[2] http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1811179/