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Cork Stopper

Kreis Magic

(Based on 1 review)
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The magician wraps a cork with a bill, and fixes it using a rubber band. The bill is rolled up like a tube, and the space inside is divided by the cork into the upper space and the lower space. The magician puts four coins into the upper space of the tube. The coins, one by one, are dropped to the table, penetrating the cork. For the last coin, the magician puts it into his pocket, but it appears from the tube. Everything is examinable after the effect.

Reviews

Thomas Sciacca

Jan 07, 2015

I've waited some time to write this review-to discuss details to an extent, but more, to encourage anyone who knows this effect to consider getting this version. What thrilled me initially, is that Kreis Magic brought the 4 coins through solid object into a more believable realm. I've seen various versions over the years-plastic tubes, steel or aluminum ones;sometimes it's a coin, sometimes a card that gets penetrated; Al Cohen put out a version with two screw together cup/funnels, and added a humorous chop cup phase.

One version I saw, from Japan, was very attractive-aluminum tubes with prongs to pierce a card in the middle. What I have owned and used, is the 'quarter squeeze', which is effective and earns strong responses from people. But...none of the above, no matter how attractive, use props that have other functions. There are also slight risks in function, and, the spectator may never spend too much time with any of the props, lest their curiousity lead them to actual function.
THIS version, has the pluses that others simply have not had:

-NORMAL objects are used
-bill, coins, rubberband could technically be borrowed
-the passage of the coins is under greater control of the magician using this m.o.
-one ends the effect clean
-ALL props involved, can be be used for/with other effects
-if desired, the spectator can play with the props at finish, all month long-there is NOTHING to find. ( I wouldn't encourage this, but, this to give a sense of how clean this version is.)

I first tried this effect out on a friend's 12 year old daughter. This being a girl, who, because of her lower height, can see things while sitting at a table-which leads to one of her favorite phrases 'I saw what you did'. When she saw this trick, she was forced to actually, actually step out of her jaded, know it all, blasé posturing, to ask 'wow-how'd ja do that?'-Mr. Vernon was nearby in ways, for his words about showing magic to children, honest as they are, have remained.
The gaffs in this effect do most of the work-there is but a bit of care that must take place to hide minimal sin about two of the nickels; and the final move, is a common pass of the coins that leaves the entire, clean and examinable.

My greater appreciation of this version, is that it connects it to a couple of true classics: Cap and pence, and Ramsey's coins and cylinder. Both of these tricks were slightly modified by Dai Vernon, and Bert Allerton, by using the rolled up bill in lieu of a cone, or cardboard tube. While slightly different in plot, this effect is simply impossible-and the coins go through that cork one by one. I could see Vernon or Leipzig doing this version-more so than either pulling out some odd tubes, or rings that might have come off of a garden hose. The trick, to me, LOOKS like a classic now.

Price, may be a bit high; you receive a very innocent looking cork, and two 'somethings' to gaff two nickels with. For 28 bucks, it would have been nice to have gotten a couple of extra somethings, but-greater care must be taken not to lose those 2 nickels.
The one critical detail for me, is carrying the trick. Specifically, the coins. They must be kept in a particular order, in a coin wallet, or, rubber squeeze purse. Carried, in place. The rest, is easy.

One additional thought, is that the cork automatically connects this effect to the restaurant/bar context. That, I'm sure, is something that odd looking tubes can't do. For me, a very beautiful solid through solid illusion, can finally be presented in a much more natural way.
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