Britain's brightest independent magic magazine

Issue 25 - March 09

Review

Trio  

David Forrest
Available from: www.full52.com
Price: £11.99  

As it is now relatively easy to produce a DVD there seem to be a multitude of over priced one trick productions that promise a great deal, but deliver much less.  So much better then when you find something that does, as they say, exactly what it says on the tin. David Forrest’s Trio promises - one gaff card and three bullet-proof card effects- and, for just under twelve pounds, that is almost exactly what you get.  

As suggested in the title, all three items use the same principle, but used to achieve different effects. You might not want to perform them together, but nor are they simple clones of one another. In Shrink a chosen card rises twice through the pack to be found trapped between two jokers. On the third occasion, in a cod explanation, a miniature of the chosen card slides from between the jokers. With cards in hand I followed the explanation, which at first felt a little awkward. With some handling practice this would quickly pass leaving you with a practical and effective piece of magic.  

Similarly, Transformer is a practical and impressive three card location, which would work well in many strolling situations. Similar moves are used to those in Shrink, but to achieve a different effect. Following the first revelation a clever ruse allows you to set up the third and final revelation well in advance, which really heightens the effect. The third and final card is found on the table, at a distance from the performer with no apparent moves required. Clever and effective.  

Finally, Flight is a signed card to wallet. Again the same subtlety allows the signed card to apparently be on display long after the wallet has actually been loaded. I like this a lot. The card vanishes and then, clean as a whistle, the magician reaches for the wallet.  In David Forrest’s handling the wallet is ungimmicked and retrieved from a back pocket, which the performer has never previously touched. While I like the idea of separating where the card is loaded from the point of retrieval, you need to be sitting down and the handling is a bit fiddly. In many live situations this handling would not be practical. However this could be overcome.  On balance I don’t think changing the handling to compensate would take much away from the effect.  

All the effects are well explained and there is nothing in the methods to deter anyone. I thought that this was a good value production, let down only by the quality of the filming and the setting. It did look as if the DVD had been made in the dining room with not very good lighting. A shame, because otherwise the quality of the material was very good. SB  

What’s Hot: Direct practical card effects within the reach of most people
What’s Not: Amateurish production values
Star Rating: ****

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