Issue 23 - November 08
Toasted
Rodger Lovins
Available from: www.worldmagicshop.co.uk
Price: £18.99
Kentucky magician Rodger Lovins’s Toasted
is not about ceremonially raising your glasses, nor is it about getting
something gently warmed and browned, (though that might’ve been nice after
this year’s summer). Think pop-up playing card from the deck, and you’ll see
from where this variation on the rising card gets its name.
In short, a card is selected from the deck, signed by the spectator, and
then returned to the deck. The magician holds the deck up and suddenly the
selected signed card pops up from the top of the deck. Be aware, however, that
this is no mini card fountain and unfortunately, the rise is actually pretty
modest – about three quarters of an inch – so if you’re after some Hot
Shot style power-toaster entrechats, you won’t get it from this.
The method for this rise relies on a well-established principle, and the
advantage comes from there being no threads and no bulkier Devano-style gimmick inhibiting your spreads and selection options.
What you get are a couple of gimmicks which can be added unnoticeably to a
Bicycle deck. The instructions are one sheet of A4 with three small
illustrations, covering all you need to know for the simple workings. Reset is
instant, and the quickness of the effect makes it a good walkaround ice-breaker,
or indeed as a coda to your set, with the signed card as a souvenir to leave
with your spectator.
Ultimately, I think at almost £20, this is rather expensive for what you
get – not only in the physical gimmicks provided and the manufacture – but
also in the visually underwhelming rise and thus the effect that this gives you;
it’s just a little disappointing and small-scale. The freedom granted by an
ordinary deck with the addition of the near invisible gimmicks is liberating,
but Toasted curiously remains somewhat
limited in its visual and dramatic impact. DL
What’s Hot:
A quick and simple effect that may surprise
What’s Not:
Yep, the price. And the “pop” from your “toaster deck” may not even
carry across a larger table
Star Rating: **
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