Britain's brightest independent magic magazine

Issue 27 - July 09

Review

Bug-O-Me  

Andy Clockwise
Available from: www.andyclockwise.com
Price: £30.00, UK postage is £3.50, overseas postage £5.50.  

The Omni-Deck meets Jurassic Park !  

Here’s an offbeat effect; someone chooses a card from a deck comprised of picture cards each bearing an insect. (He/She shall now be titled the Insect Chooser) Having remembered their chosen insect, they then draw it as best as their artistic ability allows on a post-it pad. This is laid face-down on the table and the deck now held by the Insect Chooser, sandwiched between their palms. The picture is shown to all, and much hilarity prevails. Using the picture as reference, the magician then reaches into the hands of the Insect Chooser removing one card at random – it turns out to be the illustrated/remembered insect! The final kicker comes when the Insect Chooser opens their hands to see the deck has now magically morphed into a crystal block containing their insect in the ‘flesh’ (or exoskeleton – whatever their insect happens to have if ‘flesh’ isn’t its exterior membrane)  

So what do you get for your cash? Andy presents the trick and explanation on DVD . Pleasingly he performs the trick for lay people at a restaurant, which isn’t too clear visibly or audibly due to the performing situation, but this does give the viewer a real sense of the fun that can be achieved with this off-beat effect. Andy then repeats the trick in a more staged setting prior to the explanation, making the actual effect crystal clear. For reasons that I don’t understand the DVD also has a bizarre scene of Andy being chased through a wood by a beetle. Perhaps some kind of Insects Revenge for using specimens trapped in plastic? Philosophically stimulating, but this short clip has nothing to do with the trick.  

You are also supplied with the insect in a plastic block, the deck of insect picture cards and a post-it pad. An order form is the final item provided from where the purchaser may order alternative insects trapped in plastic for repeating the effect in a walkabout situation.  

Andy wisely recommends you check with your audience prior to performing should they have a phobia of insects. He also advises to not perform this in a strolling/reception drinks environment, as the Insect Chooser may drop the final block revelation out of shock and surprise, which, without a table to break its fall, means it may shatter upon falling 4ft to the floor. Whether using insects as a theme for a trick is appropriate for a dinner performance would be down to the performer’s judgement. This trick is ultimately good fun, gets a good reaction, and is not difficult to perform. JF  

What’s Hot: An off-beat effect, well structured with a real surprise ending
What’s Not: Perhaps limited performance opportunities due to the theme of insects and creepy-crawlies
Star Rating: ***

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