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The Effect
A silver rod is shown to the audience and polished with a silk handkerchief – without the performer realising, the silver rod rises in his hand, along its length. The audience scream at the magician and eventually he catches the rod moving.

To stop it from misbehaving anymore, the rod is held sideways – obviously it can’t rise now because it’s being held horizontally. It doesn’t rise, but proceeds to move to the left and to the right whilst receiving a good telling-off from the magician. The magician decides to put the rod back in its bag to stop it being naughty – however the rod rises out of the bag too! The bag, with rod inside, is held sideways, and again the rod tries to escape. Much funnier this time as the bag droops at one end while the rod slides out of the other.

Finally, the magician holds the bag upside down – the rod can’t escape upwards, nor sideways because it’s covered on all sides.

Just as the magician goes to put the bag and rod away, the rod shoots the bag high into the air where it proceeds to land in the audience (or wherever you want it to land, given your ability to aim!).



Cost
£12 from TopSecretMagic.co.uk – click ‘Childrens’ on the menu.


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 – not so much sleights, as a ‘move that needs covering.’


Review
I’d heard about the Silver Sceptre, but only through magic forums – I’d never seen it performed and didn’t find a picture of what it looked like. However, the reviews I’d seen were good and the possibilities for ‘bits of business’ and routines seemed endless. So I bought it. £12. Job Done.

This fools adults and children alike. It’s not the most amazing magical sight, however, when dressed with the right patter, performer and, most importantly, audience, it’s an absolute scream.

The rod measures about 17 inches long, and the supplied bag is a kind of brown plastic-y vinyl-type affair. Not particularly attractive, but it does the job.

The instructions are clear – with a good half hour practice you’ll have the rod under your control. The routine included is a good one, however not to my taste, but that’s half the fun of buying props like this!

It is recommended that you use a hanky at least 24” square, for reasons that will become apparent when you receive your Silver Sceptre. I have used a 12” silk, and have had no problems.

Be warned – if you buy this, and perform it for children, it may be worthwhile buying ear-defenders too. Kids love it. They really love it. Performing with the Silver Sceptre is like performing to the best pantomime audience you could wish for. Dress the routine with “Now make sure you tell me if it moves…” and you’re well away.


Overall
This effect was a real eye-opener when I performed it for a group of children. I’d messed around with it before then, but when they’re in a group, they feed off each other and the noise is immense. For noise like that, the simplicity in handling, the ease of making your own patter and the quality of the goods – I’d be willing to pay £40 or £50 – this costs just £12.

Buy one.

10/10.