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World's Greatest Magic: The Chop Cup DVD

The Effect: Ever since the Chop Cup was invented by magician Al Wheatley (whose stage name was Chop Chop, which is where the trick derives its unusual name) in the early 1950s, magicians have devised increasingly clever ways to use it. The basic one-cup one-ball approach to the classic Cups and Balls has held the fascination of magicians through the years most probably due to its devious use of a mechanical principle along with sleight of hand to create an intriguing and compelling illusion. On this DVD, you'll meet some masters of the Chop Cup, each with their own spin on the trick. There are classicists such as John Mendoza, Danny Tong and Steve Dacri who beguile their audiences with basic but still utterly baffling routines. Then we have rather unique approaches to the trick, such as David Regal, who substitutes the ball with - no kidding! - a toy mouse and later, Gary Ouellet, who performs a beautifully choreographed (to music no less!) routine using a Chop Cup and a matching, ungaffed cup. Finally, we have Larry Jennings who created one of the most original (and most performed) Chop Cup routines ever. Finally, Jim Swain presents his own version of the Jennnings routine with his own singular imprint.

The Chop Cup has been a signature effect for many of magic's most successful performers and on this DVD, you'll find marvelous ready-made routines in addition to scores of ideas and stratagems to add to an existing routine.

My Best Friend David Regal
Chop Cup Routine John Mendoza
The Two Goblets Gary Ouellet
Chop Cup Danny Tong (courtesy of Kozmo's Magic)
Chop Cup Steve Dacri
Jennings Chop Cup Larry Jennings
The Chop Cup Jim Swain


Cost: £14.99 from http://www.dudethatscoolmagic.co.uk


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)

2-3 depending on the routine


Review: Firstly, a word on Dude That's Cool Magic. This is the second order I've placed with them, and both times, the order arrived correct, and next day. I haven't had a problem with them, and will certainly recommend and use them again. They also sell a set of aluminium Combination Chop Cups and Balls for £17.99 (and have a decent range of others) which you would need for David Regal and Gary Ouellet's routines.

Now, onto the DVD itself. For your £15 you get 7 Chop Cup routines from the likes of David Regal, John Mendoza and Steve Dacri. Most of the routines follow a similar theme, the ball gets put in the pocket, yet mysteriously ends up back under the cup, before a final load is produced. All the routines are worthwhile, although slightly repetative, however most of them bring something new. Gary Oullet's routine is worth mentioning because he does his to music with very little patter, and it is very traditional, and is fairly easy to master, as not too many sleights are involved. It also uses two cups (one of which is chopped), a silk and a shot glass, which Larry Jennings and Jim Swain also use in their routines.

Using the silk and shot glass is quite a nice idea, that I first came across browsing through different chop cup sets on various websites (I love the little pool balls one with the little cue wand and pocket cup), and adds something a little different to the standard routine. Like all the L&L DVDs in this range, there are a good mixture of presenting styles, so if you don't like the way one is taught, you are bound to get the move down of one of the other magicians on the DVD.

Finally, the opening routine, by David Regal, is very good indeed. Using wee mice instead of balls is comedy gold, and the final loads of cheese and...(I won't spoil it for you) had me laughing, because I really wasn't expecting such a huge final load given the size of the cup he used. The method is something I hadn't thought of, and gives another dimention to the chop cup, again, won't mention it here, but it would be worthwhile investing in a set of combination cups and balls if you don't already have one.

As the DVD is a collection of material from different sources, the quality varies (but not Steve Dacri's moustache, it's always clear - can't decide if he's the love child of Super Mario and Ron Jeremy yet, but I'm sure I'm not too far off), but it's always viewable, and really only the Larry Jennings clip is of poor quality.

Overall: If you don't have a Chop Cup DVD, then I would certainly recommend this, again, it is a bit repetative, but all the basic moves are covered, as well as some cups and balls moves, and possibly some things you won't have seen before. I'm sure that Michael Amar's complete Cups and Balls will have much more on it, but for £15, you can't go wrong, and get to see some good professional routines, ALL of which are perfectly usable in a real world situation. 7/10 (a mark less for the varying quality of the video, and the slight repetitiveness)

Very nice review! My chop cup routine is doing quite well at the moment, but I guess it could use a little spice! This is going on my list! In fact, my cup is a bit worn out, so I could combine it with a new one!

Where is lord freddie. He has this dvd and has a great idea for a final load!!

Hee hee. I was going to review this myself but haven't got round to it, but Max has done a fine job. I personally would give this 8/10 as I found it enjoyable particularly the originality and thoght behind some of the routines, notably David Regal's novel twist and the superb Mendoza routine.
The shot glass/silk combo is something that I use, but the ball penetrates the silk and ends up in the glass in my routine (I don't like the 'returning back home to the bag' ending) and feel this is stronger.

All in all, this DVD is good value for chop cup uses. Until mine comes out including the ever popular "Oh $hit!" routine with a nice final load.

I would have sworn that this DVD was reviewed elsewhere but I can't find it using the search so perhaps not.

Anyway it's a good DVD to start out with a chop cup but I have to say that I found it rather repetative with some of the routines looking very similar indeed. I'd give it a 7 from 10.

Personally, I don't like using the shot glass but I do like vanishing a ball to end up back in the bag. The stand out routine for me is the David Regal routine with the mouse. This has to be one of the best routines out there and in my opinion is only bettered by Paul Daniels classic chop cup routine.

The David Regal one is definitley unique and has a great ending. I like Mendoza's production of a ball too big to fit back in the cup.
The shot glass bit, I do differently and use a large silk so there is no way (to the spectator) that the ball could penetrate it, yet upon lifting the cup the ball has gone and it has. It has got good reactions for me.