The Effect
Lebanon Circle proudly presents - 'A Book at Midnight', a collaboration between artist Dan Baines and mentalist Ian Harvey. This is a self working baffling magic trick that is so simple to perform it almost feels like real magic! The mechanics are invisible and foolproof, no gimmicks, no stacked decks, no memory work - just a great story and the imagination of your audience. Transport two minds back in time to the same place, make them hear the same sounds, see the same things. Is it a demonstration of hypnosis? Time travel? Or psychic synchronicity? You decide but either way your audience will be driven to insanity trying to figure this one out!
The first edition of this this collectible effect was released back in February 2012 with Gothic horror writer H.P. Lovecraft featuring The Call of Cthulhu and other titles.
Cost
I pledged £25 through Kickstarter
Difficulty
(1=easy to do, 2=No sleights, but not so easy, 3=Some sleights used,
4=Advanced sleights used, 5=Suitable for experienced magicians only)
1 for technique, 3-5 for presentation - and this is an effect that is all about the presentation.
Review
This is the second (and third, more of that later) edition of "a book at midnight" from Lebanon Circle Magic. The first (HP Lovecraft edition) has been reviewed here: ftopic46566.php" target="_blank
This review is really concerned with the props, the effect itself is self working and the method is straightforward enough that you can concentrate on your presentation and telling a good story. I won't dwell on the method only to say that if you have the story telling skills to carry this off it will keep people talking for ages.
What do you get?
A DVD with clear teaching and demonstration
24 bookmarks, each with a different EAP title illustrated
1 bookmark with QR codes to explore E A Poe's work further
The level I pledged on Kickstarter also got me the H P Lovecraft bookmarks and 24 "A Comicbook at Midnight" bookmarks.
The bookmarks are sturdy and feel like they will last a long time. They do not look like a magic prop in any way (indeed I use a spare HPL bookmark as a bookmark!)
If you know Dan Baines' work at Lebanon Circle Magic you will know what to expect from the illustrations, they are wonderfully Gothic and atmospheric and will aid in telling the story and giving people a shiver. They also look expensive!
The "Comicbook at Midnight" bookmarks appear to be inspired by the EC comics of an earlier age and are perfect in their exploitation/schlocky comic appearance (that is a good thing) and would be great for a less dark show than the others.
The bookmarks can be mixed and matched and if you want to mix the HPL and EAP ones there is no problem.
Overall
I really like this effect and the artwork and design is excellent, I have thought about giving the thought of bookmark away when I perform this for a couple- putting a date on it so they have something to remember. Now I have 2 sets of the HPL I may do this but I'm not sure it is necessary.
Overall this is greatly recommended
