Issue 29 - Nov. 09
Crossroads
Ben Harris
Download or Printed Book Versions
Available from: www.wowbound.com or YFD
Price: US$35.00 (approx. £23.00)
In issue no.28 (Sept.09) we did a feature on Australian
magic legend Ben Harris, and now we are pleased to be able to review his latest
release - Crossroads. This is a killer card effect which could be a true
reputation maker in the right hands. A description of the effect, as the
spectators see it, should show you what impact this might have. A spectator
creates a card by selecting first a number and then a suit. Let's say he comes
up with the 7H. A deck, which has been out in view from the start, is taken by
the spectator and he deals the entire deck counting the cards out loud as he
does so. There are only 51. He is then invited to turn the cards face up and
look for his 7H. Despite the fact that he can find the other 7C, 7S and the 7D,
his chosen card is the only one that is missing. The 7H is then revealed as
being folded and secured under the performer's watch!
Crossroads is a subtle blending of principles and ideas.
Technically it is very easy to do as the spectator does all the handling and the
magician merely guides her with what to do. Older readers who remember Eddie
Joseph's Premonition trick will recognise some of the plot, but Ben's revelation
of the named card in an apparently pre-determined location, extends the original
premise and really changes the plot into a kind of teleportation trick in which
the named card is caused to vanish from the deck after it is named and made to
appear elsewhere.
Although Crossroads is not technically difficult, it will
require confident handling and presenting if it is to realise its full potential
for the audience. The presentation is, oddly in some ways, the real secret to
the method, and so practice will be required to make it all seem natural and
fair. There are always compromises to be made when creating a method for an
impossible sounding trick, and Ben's choices are on the whole good ones. He has
clearly thought long and hard about the possibilities, and made his compromises
in areas that he feels are less likely to be noticed by the spectators.
When you purchase Crossroads you will receive a nicely
produced A4 size 33 page booklet. This carefully explains how to make the deck
you require and all the nuances of the presentation and method are clearly
described. Ben also gives you a range of alternatives in an Appendix section
too, which enables the reader to make his own choices about some elements of the
method.
At the end of the booklet there is a Bonus Section in which
the core principle of Crossroads is used to create a version of Any Card At Any
Number. Once you have mastered the relevant part of the method from Crossroads,
it will not take much of a leap to transfer the idea to the ACAAN trick. The
strength of the method (devised in conjunction with Steve Shufton) is that the
performer does not have to touch the cards at any stage and yet the named card
ends up at the chosen number.
This type of routine is a real fooler if presented right.
Although it can be re-set on the go, with all the dealing and rummaging through
the cards looking for the chosen one, it's not really a trick which is suitable
for most table hopping or strolling situations. But in cases where you have an
attentive and intelligent audience to work for, I can imagine this having quite
an impact. ML
What's Hot: the plot reads very well and could be a
reputation maker
What's Not: an assured presentation is required to make the most of its
potential
Star Rating: ****
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