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Ring In Walnut

Shryock, John

John Shryock

(Based on 3 reviews)
A borrowed RING ends up in a WALNUT!

The WALNUT is in an EGG!

The EGG is in a LEMON!

After almost 15 years of performance, for the first time on DVD, John Shryock releases his signature routine. A true reputation maker. Nothing is held back. All of the tips and tricks from thousands of performances are explained in full detail.

"I used some of John Shryock's ideas in the Ring In Walnut routine that I presented on the David Letterman show. His loading procedure is really quite brilliant, and served as the "missing link" for a routine I'd been working on for several years."
- STEVE COHEN, The Millionaires' Magician

"If you take the time to learn and perform this effect properly, you will have one of the strongest effects in the art of magic!"
- JEFF McBRIDE, creator of McBride's Magic & Mystery School

"I've seen John perform Ring In Walnut at Warren & Annabelle's numerous times and it kills every time! When the ring is produced the audience gasps."
- WARREN GIBSON, owner of Warren & Annabelle's, Maui, Hawaii

Reviews

Stephen

Nov 17, 2015

Hey world, this is a good effect, but the ad is not 100% accurate. You also can't really do the trick after watching it.

THE EFFECT

It is his take on the classic orange, egg, canary trick. The set up is simple once you figure it out and wont take less than 10 min.

THE AD

It says he goes over every tip, well, he doesn't. He rushes some things that are important like ( without going into to much detail) seals and cuts. If I didn't have a buddy whose done this for years, I would of been lost.

QUALITY

The dvd is great, but it doesn't come with any gimmicks, but they are things any magician should definitely have. He has a live performance which was great and he gives all the necessary credit.

THOUGHTS

If you know someone who has experience with it, or you would like to expirement a lot, it is great.
I PERSONALLY thought it was OK .
(Top ▲)

Dr. J. M. Ayala De Cedoz

Official Reviewer

Dec 10, 2013

I like effects like this and was really looking forward to this version. I was not disappointed!

This DVD is a bare bones live performance and explanation video, but it does not leave you wondering how this and that is done.

It opens with a performance with some dreaded puns in it here and there and the explanations follow.

John first goes over everything you need first, giving you a chance to gather everything together if you wish to follow along. He shows every step of the set-up process and also gives you hints and tips about why some of the things should be done a certain way. He does not leave anything out so you will not be left scratching your head about any of it afterward. It is clear that he has worked this and knows the effect inside and out.

That is pretty much it. The set-up for each performance should take you no more than a few minutes and though not all of the parts can be prepped too far in advance, there are some that can be which will make it easier or faster.

This effect can be adapted to most venues with some serious thought on prop management and practicality but this is primarily a parlour/stand-up effect best suited to working out of some sort of case.

The one thing I would say this definitely needs is your own script and presentation angle (just like all of your magic should have!). Some of the scripting John uses is clever, but there are too many bad puns in his script. It works for him and it will probably not work for anyone else.

I personally found the audio and video to be clear and for being bare bones with no bonus ideas or effects, there was nothing wrong with the menu either.

The other thing about this DVD is its surprisingly low price for what you get - this could have easily been sold for $50.00/USD like so many other horribly-produced one-trick DVDs out there. This routine was not worked for a few years and put on DVD - John has been working this for 15 years.

If you want a strong piece of magic that will get spectators to remember a special moment, this is a great choice. I highly recommend this!
(Top ▲)

Joe Diamond

Official Reviewer

Mar 29, 2011

I met John Shyrock at a convention a few years ago, and I remember this effect from his close up show. I was fooled. Badly. So naturally I jumped at the chance to review it, and finally know how it works.

The basic effect is that a borrowed ring appears inside a walnut, which is inside of an egg, which is inside of a lemon. It’s a surprising, yet nonsensical nest of boxes kind of approach. The effect looks clean from beginning to end, and there is no switch of any of the items at any time.

The effect does take time and effort to set up, but nothing mind numbingly crazy. You can’t prep dozens of these for a night of walk around, but if you are doing two or three parlor shows in an evening, and you are working out of a side case, it’s no problem.

The DVD itself is nicely produced. The quality of the case, editing, and menus aren’t off the charts like a Big Blind Media project, but it’s all nicely done. All you learn on the DVD is this effect, nothing more. There are no bonus handlings, or filler of any kind that plague so many magic DVDs. At the same time, nothing about the trick is held back.

My only real complaint is that John is making strange jokes and puns throughout the trick, thinking it’s giving the trick a presentation. For example, he say’s you never know exactly what’s inside a lemon. When he cut open the lemon and finds the egg, he repeats, “Eggs-actly,” which only makes the audience groan, and I feel it weakens the routine. I also don’t think this is enough of a theatrical reason for the egg to be inside the lemon. While the routine is strong, it doesn’t really make sense. However, I’m sure some could play this as a sort of surrealism.

While I think you will need to write a better presentation, I think the effect is really strong, well structured, and worth the asking price. Most one trick DVDs offer an effect that’s barely a year old, while John brings us a professional effect he has kept to himself for fifteen years.

Like all good things, it was worth the wait.

Three and a half stars
(Top ▲)