Price$12.00
Media TypeTrick
CategoryClose Up
Date AddedFeb 12, 2005
Vanishing, The
Peter Duffie
(Based on 1 review)
You show two packets of cards. The packets are assembled underneath a handkerchief and one packet vanishes completely. You show the remaining cards SINGLY. The cards area really gone. Everyone thinks that the cards have been left under the handkerchief and under it a single card appears revealing a message (any message, 'BOO', 'GONE', etc..., even your telephone number!). This effect is easy and comes with the necessary cards. Any handkerchief can be used.
Reviews
(Top ▲)
I have been something of a fan of Peter Duffie's work-particularly his variations on the theme of blank cards. I have shared Point Blank Assembly, Ghost Flight and others, with clear success. Having heard of the Vanishing, I liked the idea of the entire card, or in this case, cardS, vanishing-not just the faces-under a clothe, complete with a message from a ghost who likes to go 'Boo!'.
Now, there was only one surprise here that I didn't like, and it was the patter. Duffie based this trick on another cardman's version of Cannibal cards, and it's easy to see why. Duffie's patter, however, has to do with a 'supreme race of white aliens, who go throughout the galaxy, taking over other races...'
This to me a too absurd a stretch, and cannibals makes more sense considering that the cards that remain are 8's-the eights that ATE the 3 blanks. What really got my attention-and I can't overlook it-is the actual mention of a 'white race looking to take over'-even within the context of a humorous card trick, these are loaded words, and knowing how sensitive people can be in this country to racial issues, some may find such words as inappropriate.
I doubt that Duffie intended the patter to be construed that way, but white supreme anything, has no place in my stories anymore than other ethnic references do. Naturally, patter is SUGGESTED, as he acknowledges this in the instructions. The trick itself is clever, having 5 cards marauding as 9. I think the greater question or challenge here is coming up with a story to justify the trick-and the one card that is left from the pile that have vanished.
Years back, David Britland put out some folios which had variations of Cannibal-one in particular that accomplishes the same effect as this one, minus gaffs. If I compare this trick with some other Duffie routines, I may be tempted to continue using them over this. It's not very long, and the vanishing of 3 cards among 9, is not as strong as say, vanishing an entire deck, leaving only four kings in the hand. I could see this being part of a spirit magic show, mixed in with other such non card effects. Not a must have, in my opinion.
Now, there was only one surprise here that I didn't like, and it was the patter. Duffie based this trick on another cardman's version of Cannibal cards, and it's easy to see why. Duffie's patter, however, has to do with a 'supreme race of white aliens, who go throughout the galaxy, taking over other races...'
This to me a too absurd a stretch, and cannibals makes more sense considering that the cards that remain are 8's-the eights that ATE the 3 blanks. What really got my attention-and I can't overlook it-is the actual mention of a 'white race looking to take over'-even within the context of a humorous card trick, these are loaded words, and knowing how sensitive people can be in this country to racial issues, some may find such words as inappropriate.
I doubt that Duffie intended the patter to be construed that way, but white supreme anything, has no place in my stories anymore than other ethnic references do. Naturally, patter is SUGGESTED, as he acknowledges this in the instructions. The trick itself is clever, having 5 cards marauding as 9. I think the greater question or challenge here is coming up with a story to justify the trick-and the one card that is left from the pile that have vanished.
Years back, David Britland put out some folios which had variations of Cannibal-one in particular that accomplishes the same effect as this one, minus gaffs. If I compare this trick with some other Duffie routines, I may be tempted to continue using them over this. It's not very long, and the vanishing of 3 cards among 9, is not as strong as say, vanishing an entire deck, leaving only four kings in the hand. I could see this being part of a spirit magic show, mixed in with other such non card effects. Not a must have, in my opinion.