by Renato » Jun 30th, '06, 22:12
Okay, we always talk about magic with meaning, so here is something quite meaningful indeed:
Not Just Any Card at Not Just Any Number
Handing a spectator a completely normal pack of cards he asks them to inspect them. To make sure that they are regular. This they do and the spectator confirms that they are ineed.
"A few cards or so may be missing, but apart from that the deck is completely normal, isn't it?"
"Yes."
"Well just watch - please, cup your hands and hold the deck in them...yes, just like that..."
"A normal deck, no funny cards, no duplicate cards in face - no cards so to speak at all."
With his hands shown to be containing no other cards etc. the performer merely waves his hands above the deck in the spectator's...impossibly, right there in their very own hands, the deck magically transforms in to an old, ornate deck, the faces of which bear different names.
Joan, John, Mark, Fred, Sarah, Jessica, Lisa etc.
The spectator shuffles the cards and as they do this they are asked to think of someone special to them - someone close to them. Once they have done this they may stop shuffling, and hold the deck face-down in their hands.
"Now, this person you are thinking of, you have quite a close relationship, correct? Don't you?"
"Yes, I do. He has been my best friend for fifteen years now."
"Good...I would like to demonstrate to you the strange and somewhat mystical effect...powers, if you will, of such a strong bond. The fates can bring together any number of variables when such a thing is occurant. This effect is a celebration of your relationship, your friendship, and the strong bond that you both share. Please, tell me, what is your birthdate?"
"The eighteenth.
"The eighteenth? Then please count down eighteen cards."
This they do, turning away indifferent cards as they do so. They stop on the eighteenth card.
"And the name of the person that you were thinking of?"
They say that it was Josh. Upon turning the card in their hand over - which is untouched by you - they find that it bears the name...Josh!
"I said earlier that some cards were missing, and also that this was a relationship between you and Josh, apparently. We counted down to your birthdate so it seems only fitting and fair that we do try and do something with Josh's birthdate...what is it? The tenth? Tell me, how many cards do you have left are you holding?"
Needless to say, they are holding ten!
A quick recap of the effect: a pack of regular cards changes in to one with ornate stylings and names across their face in their hands!
Then they shuffle the cards and think of someone close to them.
Upon revealing their birthdate and dealing that number of cards down in to the partly-complete pack/deck they find the card with their friend's name on it!
Finally the number of cards that they are left holding corresponds to the birthdate of their said friend!