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Issue 27 - July 09

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Review

Secret Soldier  

Wayne Fox
Available from www.magicshop.co.uk
Price: £39.99  

You know a trick is good when the inventor is 1) a professional performer 2) only creates real stuff that works for real people and 3) has such confidence in the trick that they take time out to find you and perform it for you live. I’m delighted to say Wayne Fox did number ‘3’, is a number ‘1’ (hmmm…maybe I should re-phrase that) and constantly does number ‘2’.  

Wayne’s newest effect ‘Secret Soldier’ made me laugh with approval so much that I immediately introduced him to a dealer to repeat the effect (and also with the aim to make a cut should Wayne and said dealer come to a deal. I’m pleased to say that the latter happened, but I’m still waiting for my slice!) The trick is novel – an incredible feat for ‘yet another card trick’ and due to Wayne’s supplying of ‘extra’ thingy-mi-jiggies that come as part of the price, instantly repeatable with a different card should you be working a strolling situation and the same persistent person follows you around trying to fathom out your secrets.  

So onto the effect and its novelty; a card is selected, returned, shuffled and everyone present yawns. To bring them back to awareness a small toy soldier is now introduced and everyone has a fondle (of the soldier) whilst sharing stories of how it looks similar to the cheap green plastic ones they had when they were small human children. This replica is neither cheap, green or plastic but cast in pewter (prior to the trick, so you don’t have to do this during the performance which would mean for lengthy drying times and setting up a small laboratory to prepare the pewter – see, Mr. Fox thinks of everything, such is his niceness).  

The toy soldier is handed to one of the observant gang, preferably The Selector of The Card. With the deck face down The Selector of The Card places the small grey military figure onto any face down card. This is a completely FREE CHOICE, which explains why when the card it turned over it is not the selected card. (Well, 99% of the time it isn’t – but sometimes it is and play this for all it’s worth) With the performer nowhere near the cards or soldier at any stage during this process, the spectators are asked to turn their attention fully to the little soldier they have been handling. To shouts of ‘bu**er me’ (I did actually shout this during Wayne’s live demo) the grey toy soldier can now be seen to be holding the pip and number in full red colour of the actual selected card! Hand the little tinker out – there’s nowt to find.  

Wayne puts everything onto DVD to teach you how to present this quite unique effect. It’s a great feeling performing this trick. It gives me a kind of nervous excitement (which, when you purchase it, you will understand too) similar to that of the feeling you used to get when climbing the gym rope in school as a kid. And it’s a pleasant feeling. Highly recommended. JF  

What's Hot: that you can repeat the effect with a different selected card
What's Not: a tad pricey, but worth it for the effect
Star Rating: ****


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