Issue 22 - September 08
Illusion Through Expectation
Alex Moffat
Available from www.rsvpmagic.com
Price: £17.00
One thing that’s for sure is that RSVP Magic know how to make a good magic tutorial DVD – and their latest offering ‘Illusion Through Expectation’ with Alex Moffat is no exception.
The DVD kicks off with a detailed explanation of all the sleights Alex uses in the effects that follow. Some sleights he uses heavily throughout the DVD, however any one of them could be substituted with your own methods, so don’t be put off if you can’t master or don’t like the look of any of them.
With a running time of approximately 1hr 40mins you sure get value for money here. Here’s a few of the many effects to whet your appetite:
‘Barely Watched’ is a nice visual vanish and appearance – under your watch – of a card. This is relatively easy to perform and will give good reactions. Well worth a try.
‘Sh4des of Dobson’, inspired by a routine from Wayne Dobson’s ‘A Kind Of Magic Series’, is a three phase matrix type effect that looks like real magic. Coins jump from corner to corner and back again in the blink of an eye. This is a routine that won’t be achieved easily and quickly. However, given enough practice, this could be a great addition to any performer’s repertoire.
Another nice coin appearance is ‘Almo Wipe Cleans’. Based on an effect by David Williamson, a coin is plucked from the air from what are the performer’s seemingly empty hands. Nice!
Anyone who has already mastered Daryl’s ‘Hot Shot Cut’ (also taught in the sleights section of this DVD) will welcome ‘Double Hot Shot’. Two selected cards are spun from the deck in fine style. Also, if revelations are your thing check out ‘Catch Me If You Can’ followed by ‘Catch Us If You Can’. Two more card reveals worth playing with.
There are lots of great effects on this first DVD offering from Alex, however, for me, the real jewel and worth at least double the £17.00 asking price is ‘Mofusion’. This has to be one of the best card fusion effects I’ve come across. I doubt there is a magician out there who performs weddings/parties, etc who hasn’t played around with this plot at some point. The killer in this version is that the signed card is actually an odd backed blank faced card that can be freely examined. The signatures are really on that card, yet at the climax all the cards vanish leaving only the fused card made up from the odd backed signed card and another previously selected and signed card. This is the ultimate give away for a spectator. You may have to play around with the ending to this effect depending on your style, but there are loads of options if you put your mind to it.
This DVD contains loads more good, useable routines that are also worth checking out. There’s also a bonus section that takes a look at the topit in more detail along with some of its uses.
The majority of the effects are performed to the same spectator in a studio environment. However a few are also repeated in live location. Highly recommended DVD. I can’t wait to see what Alex releases next! PS
What's Hot: Mofusion. Worth the price of the DVD alone!!
What's Not: It would have been nice to see more of the effects performed in real
life situations
Star rating: ****
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