Central Reservation - Luke Jermay
Available from: Alakazam-usa.com - Downloads section
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Price: $18.49
The Effect:
The Magician hands a small packet of cards to three separate members of his audience. Each spectator spreads their cards and merely thinks of one. They then each shuffle their respective packets, shuffle the packets into one another and replace the cards into the centre of the deck. The first spectator is asked to name their card. The Magician spells the name of the selection out loud, dealing one card for each letter. Despite the impossible circumstances, the card on the final letter is their selection.
To avoid any accusation of tricky dealing, the Magician hands the deck to the second spectator, who names their selection and spells the name, again, dealing one card for each letter. Once again the final card of the deal is their mental selection.
To finish, the final spectator is handed the pack and asked to deal, but to spell the name of his card in his head rather than out loud. Despite the unnamed card being freely mentally selected, the Magician reveals the name of the thought of card with 100% accuracy and no fishing.
For good measure, the final card also rests in the correct spelling position.
Difficulty:
2 - Rudimentary "moves" used - all of which should be well within the abilities of any level card worker.
Review:
This does do exactly as it says it will. This is very easy to pull off from a technical standpoint. This and the fact that any moves are done casually and completely under the radar, allows you to focus solely on performance and selling the effect.
Just by reading, you can immediately understand just how powerful an effect this can be. The entire selection process is so brilliantly open and fair that it makes each revelation seem utterly impossible. Every aspect of the presentation is carefully constructed to instill this sense of fair play. The fact that the performer rarely has control of the deck makes the effect even stronger, in my opinion.
The effect can play well in almost any environment. Stage, parlor or close-up - it will work anywhere.
I have always enjoyed Card at Any Number and Spelling style effects - and this one is a particular winner for me, since it pulls both of these styles into one powerful bit of magic. The rule of three is used to perfect effect, with each successive revelation being more powerful than the last, leading up to a killer climax. What also makes it great is each phase continues to make the effect more baffling and impossible. Just when the audience might think it's sleight of hand, you give the deck to the spectator to deal it themselves. Before they can even begin to connect the dots, you hit them square in the face with simple, direct, 100% mind reading to finish it. When you name the card the final spectator just LOOKED at - it will kill. When the description says "no fishing" it's true. As soon as that final card is dealt to the table, you immediately name it (you can draw it out a bit if you like, but you CAN instantly reveal the identity of the card)
After only a handful of performances, I've seen some of the strongest reactions from that finale.
Cons:
It's not without a few minor hiccups - but I have to point out that any of these potential "problems" are really covered (and by the nature of the presentation, more or less eliminated) and kept in the dark.
1 - The effect is not clean - and the deck is not examinable. (The spectators' selections are examinable, and they can keep them if you'd like to give them away). As powerful as it is, this makes it lose a point or two - but solely from a personal perspective. Luke is not a fly-by-night performer, and as such - his brilliance shines through by way of the presentation. Remember what I said just before. The deck is not examinable. At NO POINT can the spectator examine the entire deck? And yet - for 2/3 of the effect, the deck is in the spectators' hands!!! The presentation makes everything seem so fair and open, that any kind of funny business or trick deck (it's not a trick deck, btw) seems out of the question. To prove that, I had one spectator claim it must be a trick deck - only to have that argument shouted down by spectator #2, who reminded him that they both dealt the cards. I quote - "They don't just hand out trick decks, you moron". It was nice to have someone else quell the "trick deck" defense.
Even though it loses points for being a little dirty, the fact that you can do this right under their noses (and 75% of the time, right under their fingers), makes the effect even more enjoyable to perform.
2 - The effect requires a bit of time to reset and go again. As such, it is not repeatable (nor should it be. I can guarantee you WILL get more than a few "do it again" requests - but just smile and revel in the fact that you just performed powerful magic.
3 - Cost - Nearly $20 for one effect is a bit pricey. You get two minor bonus techniques (one in the form of a utility/tool, the other in a sleight) which are interesting and could be a source of further inspiration. However, the cost could probably be lower.
These are really the only drawbacks to it (neither one really being enough to not recommend it). That it isn’t examinable is a marginal drawback, I just felt it was necessary to mention it.
Final Thoughts:
Though I prefer effects that leave you clean at the end, I can't complain too much - especially if I use this as a closing effect. The audience is too busy picking their jaws up off the floor to ask if they can look at your cards. Even if they did... well..... We all know what's possible. This is a wonderful piece of mental magic that is sure to get you some great reactions.
Overall: 9/10
Simple and direct - what more can you ask for? Brings multiple plot lines into one astounding effect. Spelling effect, Card at Any Number, Mind Reading - it has a little bit of everything. I would highly recommend this if you want a bit of mental in your card magic.