talkmagic.co.uk

Price $30.00

As with most of Docc's productions I wondered whether I had wasted my money compared to what one can get for that price.

As with all docc's stuff though the size of the book belied its contents.

Without giving too much away, i will try and give a flavour of the contents.

Howard Philips Lovecraft was an early 20th century horror writer who enjoys cult status these days. his stories are set in New England and usually involve races of elder beings who inhabited the earth before mankind. They still sleep in the bowels of the earth and the unexplored places such as deepest antactica and that is where At the Mountains of Madness is set.

You the performer play an investigator who by means of a magical necklace are able to do three experiments each one more climactic than the last. The first is identifying an object in a locked trunk. The second is teleporting an object from inside the trunk to another place.

The third is to transport to the fabled place in antarctica with possible dire consequences for the performer.

Ok thats the gist so whst do you get for your $30.00

The firdt thing to say is you get an overview of the story not a script. This means you have to script your own 1 man show so every performer will play it differently. That means you have to put the work in crafting your own story which for a bizarrist should be part of his routine anyway. We are all used to aadapting tricks to our own style so it shouldn't be too much of a problem.

the effects are wel explained and are very simple to do and complete with Docc's descriptions of athmospheric effects - the whole thing is done in candlelight

Docc then in part three of the book goes on to tell you how to market the show and practical considerations for performing it.

Everything written in Docc's clear informative style.

Well that's what is in the book, what's it like to perform?

I determined to perform the routine as i am a fan of lovecraft and so set about sourcing the props needed. Most of the stuff was easy to come by until I needed a specific piece of equipment knon as a jumper. These ar e like rocking horse poop, no longer manufactured. Type bi-metal on google and try and get one virtually impossible, so how does one get the audience to believe that they hear a pencil snap inside a box by astral projection? I leave it to you fellow performer but I found a way around it.

I rehearsed the routine for about 4 weeks solid then did what i always do...a free night for friends and family to test out the efects. They are all warned not to be nice to me. If they see a mistake they are to tell me later.

The people assembled, the doors bolted. The eerie music starts and the lights go out. I light the candles and then begin.

' Tonight Ladies and gentlemen i want to try an experiment which if successful may change the course of man's thinking on evolution......'

Each trick flows into the next with no angles or sight lines to worry about. This is virtually seance theater. At the end I leave the room in a ost spectacular fashion leaving the audiece in a state of total confusion.

This routine works I perform this around Halloween most nights of the week and it never fails to leve the audience holding on to some sort of reality I'm not sure what though.

My opinion . If you want strong magick this is it. Aside from the problem of the jumper i would recommend this if you want to make aa real impact.

best $30 I ever spent

Rating 4.95/5 oh what the helll 5/5 Difficulty 2 some setting up required
effect stunning

John

Additional info can be found at http://www.jheff.com/Mountains_of_Madness.html

thanks for the link Mandrake also I must learn to spell.....

It was interesting to read the other guy's comments about the cost of the props being somewhat more than indicated and also how the effect is being promoted as an act in itself which can generate serious income - I'm assuming that it's not too difficult to find suitable items and/or substitutes and also that parts can be included or left out depending on the whim of the performer. I'd also guess that the various items can be more elaborate or expensive if the performer felt that such investment were justified. I must admit the relatively low cost of the routine is very, very tempting.......but, as I'm just an amateur hobbyist, not something I'd probably get around to performing. There again, it doesn’t cost all that much......
(I used to think I was indecisive but these days I'm not so sure )

Most of the items you need can be picked up at car boot sales. The only major expense could be the trunk but I made my own out of MDF and painted it with varios shades of brown and gree mpaint. Made lid from hardboard bent over former for that treasure island look

In addition to the review I would also say that the ending is VERY strong and the build up to it makes your audience utterly convinced of what you are attempting. I can still hear the screams.

As I speak I am looking at a copy of 'murder by mail' on the net and wondering whether to order it. One magician refuses tio do it because the effect is too strong. Docc gives nothing away so I just may be getting the pennies out again when I do another review of the Docc's excellent work will be forthcoming.