Simply Impromp2

There is now nothing to be found. Turn the three face-down cards face up one at a time. Then say, “Let's see how I did. It looks like I found three matching cards. Would you bring out your card? Whew, I was afraid it wouldn't match but I was wrong. That completes the set of four.”

BRIDGES Aldo Colombini This is based on a Marlo/Joseph Principle, if I am not wrong (and if I am, someone will correct me!). EFFECT: Two spectators freely select a card from two packets. Dealing cards on the table from the two packets simultaneously, the two cards show up at the same time! METHOD: Have a spectator remove two packets of cards. The number of cards is immaterial, but each packet must contain the same amount of cards. Let say that he places on the table two facedown packets of twelve cards each. The cards can be shuffled at any time (each packet, not together). The remainder of the deck is placed aside as it is no longer needed. A spectator cuts any amount of cards from the top of one packet and another spectator cuts any amount of cards from the top of the other packet. They both look at the bottom card of the cut-off portion and place their packets onto the opposite remaining piles on the table. Then, a spectator places one of the piles on top of the other (it does not matter which one goes on top). You pick up the combined pile and secretly glimpse the bottom card. Give the packet a series of Charlier Shuffles followed by some genuine cuts. The two spectators can cut the packet as well (always single and complete cuts). Finally, turn the pile face up, spread through the cards and casually cut at the glimpsed card and complete the cut. Turn the packet face down in your hand (the glimpsed card is back to the bottom and, consequently, the packet is in the original order). Count twelve cards one after the other on the table, thus reversing their order into a facedown pile (in this example you count twelve cards as the two packets were composed of twelve cards each, if the two packets contained ten cards you would count ten cards, and so forth). Count the other twelve cards one after the other, reversing their order, as well, into a facedown pile alongside the previous packet. Simultaneously, with both hands, turn over the top card of each packet, placing them face up in front of each pile. Invite the spectators to say stop when they see their cards. At one point, both spectators will say stop as the two selected cards, automatically, will appear at the same time in the two packets (one on each).

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BAFFLING REVELATIONS Cards are selected and lost in the deck, apparently with no way to find them. The premise is good and when the magician finds them in an unexpected way, the magic is enhanced, the impact is stronger, and the audience’s reaction is worth watching! You will baffle your spectators with tricks that appear to be beyond explanation. In this chapter you will find many routines of this kind from some of the most knowledgeable performers from around the world.

ELEMENTARY, MY DEAR WATSON Peter Marucci Here is the Holmes and Watson routine that originally appeared in Peter’s first One-Man Parade in the Linking Ring magazine in February of 1985. This is a very simple and classic Sandwich effect but Peter’s presentation makes it strong and entertaining. EFFECT: Two cards, representing Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson, find a card selected by the spectator and representing a master criminal! METHOD: Start by saying, “And now we take you to Victorian England, a time of high living and low crime, a time of Jack the Ripper, and a time of Sherlock Holmes….” As you say this, go through the face-up deck and deal the AS to the table, ace detective, continue, “…and his trusted companion Dr. John, Jack to his friends, Watson.” Here you deal the JS to the table. “As our story opens, London is an uproar (riffle the deck), Scotland Yard is baffled (riffle the deck again). Sounds a lot like London being in an uproar, doesn’t it? And all because of a master criminal who has escaped capture.” Fan the cards face down between your hands and let a spectator select one. “Would you choose a card to play the part of the master criminal, please?” Have the card shown around, returned to the deck and then control it to the top. “Finally, the police seek help of the ace detective Sherlock Holmes and his trusted companion, Dr. John, Jack to his friends, Watson.” Point to the AS and JS on the table. “Well, Watson, the game’s afoot,” says Holmes. “So we’ve been asked to track down a master criminal who’s loose in London, breaking into schools.” “What kind of schools?” says Watson. “Elementary, my dear Watson.” says Holmes. Wait for the groans over that pun to settle and continue. “So, Holmes and Watson set off into the London fog to track down their master criminal.” As you say this, get a pinky break under the top chosen card. “Holmes started out on one side of the city.” Place the AS face up on top of the deck and Double Undercut the top two cards bringing the AS and the chosen card to the bottom of the deck. “And Watson started off on the other side.” As you say this, put the JS face up on top and cut the deck completing the cut. The position is now: AS and JS face up in the middle of the deck with the chosen card face down between them. “As they worked their way through the grog shops and back alleys, they had planned to meet later and review the results of their invested investigation. They hoped that, between them, they would be able to capture this fiend that was terrorizing London.” As you say that, ribbon spread the deck, showing the two face-up cards with the face-down card between them. “Well, they seem to have caught something between them. What was the name of the card you chose to play the master criminal?” When the spectator announces the name of the card, turn it over and reveal it as the one captured. Watson was overjoyed with their success. “Holmes”, he said, “you’re brilliant; you’re a genius; you’re the greatest detective of all time.” “No, no”, said Holmes, “It was nothing, really nothing at all. Finish by saying, “Which goes to prove that, be he ever so humble, there’s no police like Holmes.”

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