#1. Many items are on the table, such as tambourine, a bell, cups, a pitcher of water and a glass, etc.

You can ring the bell,
Shake the tambourine or toss a bugle from the table into the air.
You can create a séance in full light.
You can pour a glass of water or wine, etc.

#2. Bob Swadling of England uses this to change costumes.
Hold the cloth in front of your body.
Lift it up so that it covers your face.
Under cover, your other hand puts on a pair of glasses or a hat.
Lower the cloth to show the change.
Lift again for mustache or hat etc.

#3. Ventriloquists can use this with a puppet hanging behind the cloth.
The free hand enters the puppet body and it can come up to speak.
or move while the cloth is-still apparently held by the ventriloquist.

You can paint the false hand with white latex paint so that it resembles a gloved hand.
You can then wear a pair of white gloves and have no fear about the color of the false hand matching your own hand.

Many other possibilities lie ahead with this resourceful prop.