talkmagic.co.uk

From : http://www.cannonsgreatescapes.com/Shop ... chase.html

Cost $30 (excluding shipping)

Difficulty: 3 upwards IMO

This is a fairly good dvd. it covers a lot of areas, but seems to offer different advice to the Dixie Dooley dvd set. I would say definatly get them both though. I was dissapointed in the advertising section though, all he says on the matter is basically, write you own advertising instead of letting other people do it (like the club / venue you are performing at). A lot of the other sections are also fairly brief. I dont like the way he talks to some of the audience members that are helping him, but thats a personality difference. Overall, this dvd has a lot of valuble information on it and is worth the cost if you are wanting to get the best from this escape.

Overall 8/10

Good Review but personally, I don't like this escape. It takes to long to get tied and it seems that everyone knows there own method on how to do it.

But surely with the bulk of escape work, the securing must have to take a fair while, emphasing the difficulty the performer is going to be in.
Otherwise the escape would not be believable to an audience?
It's really where you need a very good compere, spieler, or dramatic voice over to keep the audience interested.

The real problem, depending on the escape, must be.... HOW long can you hold an audience's attention before making the escape.
And, is the escape to be visible or like the sub trunk, partially concealed.

One of the great things about David Copperfield's Fires of Passion, is how quickly he is secured and then that agonising, brilliant, pacing of the escape, when he is suspended , upside down. strung to a burning rope, with both fire and sharp steel rods beneath him.
Near the end when one, later a second of the ankle attatchments round his ankles breaks...wow what a marvellous piece of Theatre that is.
I know he is still secure and those attatchments breaking are a set part of the build up ; the genius director's touch,making them look accidentall, always, on every viewing, makes me sweat with fear!
Now that's the sense...emotional..that is rarely used by magicians.
And when he clings to the descent rope, safe, the circular platform from which he was suspended plunging down into the fires below..THAT IS a bang, crash, wallop, slam, Finale. Then the audience's tension is released
Applause. Applause!

Allen Tipton