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Alladin

Dominique Duvivier

(Based on 2 reviews)
Alladin from Mayette Magie Moderne

With a few cards, you can accomplish amazing things! Take a small packet of cards and make them seem as if they are constantly changing without introducing any new cards to the packet! 4 ordinary cards become several different cards, four at a time. You must see it to believe it. From the mind of Dominique Duvivier, this effect will surely stun your audience.

Effect includes beautifully printed Bicycle cards, complete instructions and patter.

Reviews

Thomas Sciacca

Jun 02, 2010

I was curious about this trick, Alladin, to see if it had anything different to offer so far as color changes. It was also an opportunity to spend time with an effect invented by Mr. Duvivier. Overall, I can think of, and already perform versions of this effect which are cleaner, and require 5 cards as opposed to 6. I tend to agree with the review here, in that the changes are chaotic, hard to follow, and that the routine lacks an easy to follow logic. I love visual effects, and people always seem to get a kick out of color changes. There is an effect called 'acroback cards' sold by mjm, and others, which will give the performer the same effects: cards turn over, and then turn to different colors at finish. not so many Elmsley counts, not so much chaos which I think tells the viewer "he's gotta have more than 4 cards here." Being a visual artist, I like coming up with my own ideas so that I'm not reliant upon specially printed cards, as with Alladin. These cards have colorful designs, but in general, a simple pattern/color has more punch and will be easier to remember, than a complex pattern. Overall I'd stick with 'acroback cards,' for directness and simplicity.
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Gordon Meyer

Official Reviewer

Aug 09, 2005

This is a visually-interesting packet trick that isn't very well described by the dealer, or even by the author, so let me see if I can't put it in words.

You begin by showing a "very special" packet of cards, without specifying exactly how many you hold. You demonstrate the cards are red-back Bicycles, then they suddenly change to "negative"-backed (black-on-white) Bicycle cards. The audience now sees that what you're holding is 4 Eight of Clubs, as the cards magically turn face-up in the packet. You turn the cards over to show that they've changed back to red-Bicycles, then they once again revert to being black-backed. A bit more counting as the cards flip face-up again, then gradually turn into "brightly-colored"-backed cards. (More on this later in the review.) Then, the backs change to a "muted-color" back design, so you put them away saying "Things are getting a bit complicated, so I'd better move on to another trick."

Complicated, indeed. Oh, the methodology is straightforward enough. I lost track of how many Elmsley counts are performed, but I'm struggling to find any meaning or motivation behind the madcap color shifting. (And don't ask me how the name of the trick, Aladdin, ties in at all.) The only significant patter line provided in the one-page (printed both sides) instructions is the one I quoted above.

Illustrated with nine photos, the trick is described well enough. You'll need to know the Elmsley Count, which is not described, but you do get a brief description of Vernon's Through The Fist Flourish, and a decent description of the Duvivier Count.

You get a packet of six cards, five of which are gimmicked or specially printed. They're high-quality, but the two "bright" and "muted" back designs look more like a printing mishap than a carefully executed design. But, they're distinct from the regular back designs, which is really the point here.

If you're a packet trick aficionado or collector, you'll probably be OK with this. If you're not, it will give you a chance to practice your Elmsley Count.
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