Price$38.00
Media TypeDVD
CategoryGeneral, Close Up
Date AddedFeb 18, 2015
50 Fifty
Kennedy, Brian
World Magic Shop
(Based on 2 reviews)
A freely selected card is signed and then placed into a card case.
Two other cards are used as blades and used to divide the card case in half.
In a moment of pure close up theatre the box is parted leaving a visual work of art for your spectators to take in.
The card is signed and inside the box throughout!
Everything can be immediately examined.
Reviews
(Top ▲)
Overview
50Fifty by Brian Kennedy and World Magic Shop is the iconic Sawing a Lady in Two stage illusion miniaturized and presented as a Saw a Playing Card in Two. Unlike other similar tricks like the Zig Zag Card, this illusion uses an ordinary playing card box. If you like DIY and some intricate cutting and assembly, you may want to give this one a go.Effect
The performer takes a deck of cards out of its tuck case and spreads them on the table. A spectator chooses a card. The chosen card is placed back into the tuck case and the flap is closed. Two other cards are freely chosen and they are used as blades and are theatrically pushed through the card box apparently severing the card previously placed inside. The box itself is hinge and opened to show the cards are passing through the case. The box is closed, locked and the blades are removed and the chosen card is shown to be unscathed.Method
The method relies on a heavily gimmicked card box and some simple use of physics. The method is clever and reminds me of something one would find in the Books of Wonder by Tommy Wonder. There is no sleight of hand to speak of but one should definitely practice inserting and removing the chosen card. Unfortunately, it seems that the creator himself appeared to be insecure in his own performance and struggled with the inserting and removing of the chosen card. It was awkward at best and the spectators seems obliged to sit and watch as they exhibited no enthusiasm for the trick. That being said, there isn’t any reason why someone with a more effervescent personality couldn’t present this better.Product Quality
The concept is clever and as stated before, it certainly reminds me of items found in The Books of Wonder. The instructional DVD is of decent quality and most of it is devoted to the construction of the gimmick. Very little is supplied to construct the gimmicked box and you would have to provide at least three card boxes, glue, tape and other construction tools typically used in magic DIY.Ad Copy Integrity
What is not stated in the ad copy is that this is a massively involved DIY project and not everything is provided either. Plan to spent at least three hours constructing the gimmicked box. Kennedy provides very little material towards the construction and for only one box. Needless to say, if you wanted to make a second you would have to scavenge the first or locate similar supplies as he did.(Top ▲)
What a clever idea!. Everyone loves the drama of sawing a woman in half.
The method is clever. You get a DVD, and some of the parts needed to make the prop. It will take some arts and crafts time, but it’s not that difficult.
The instruction is good. The setup and cleanup are very easy.
The performance difficulty level is beginner.
CONS
I really wanted to give this five stars. However, even in the performance section of the DVD, on the first performance, they cut away at a key point in the performance. They do show this in other performances, but a key point of the performance looks a bit suspicious, and even clumsy, even for Brian. I do think that this effect could be performed better and would look better in someone else's hands. I really do love the effect and I love the method. I'm hoping I can improve the handling to make it look less suspicious, and I think that with a bit of thought and work, you to may be able to perform it better. I will say that in the performances, even though it looked clumsy to a magician, apparently his audience was impressed with the outcome.
I think the construction of the gimmick is more complex than necessary. As you watch the instructions, I think you will see how you might make it simpler if you desire.
VERDICT
Great creative effect.
The method is clever. You get a DVD, and some of the parts needed to make the prop. It will take some arts and crafts time, but it’s not that difficult.
The instruction is good. The setup and cleanup are very easy.
The performance difficulty level is beginner.
CONS
I really wanted to give this five stars. However, even in the performance section of the DVD, on the first performance, they cut away at a key point in the performance. They do show this in other performances, but a key point of the performance looks a bit suspicious, and even clumsy, even for Brian. I do think that this effect could be performed better and would look better in someone else's hands. I really do love the effect and I love the method. I'm hoping I can improve the handling to make it look less suspicious, and I think that with a bit of thought and work, you to may be able to perform it better. I will say that in the performances, even though it looked clumsy to a magician, apparently his audience was impressed with the outcome.
I think the construction of the gimmick is more complex than necessary. As you watch the instructions, I think you will see how you might make it simpler if you desire.
VERDICT
Great creative effect.