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Series of Unfortunate Effects

Mayhew, Chris; Train, Ben

Chris Mayhew

(Based on 1 review)
Dealing with a mix of wacky personalities, including eccentric magicians and crazed card collectors, Chris and Ben go on a quest to learn the real secrets of magic.

After witnessing an amazing magic trick performed by the world-famous Lee Asher, Chris enlists his friend Ben's help to discover the secret.

They soon discover though that learning the secrets to magic aren't as easy as they once thought. Chris and Ben need to help Lee find something he's looking for before he'll share the secret with them. In order to do that they have to go through magicians Jeff Hinchliffe, Glenn West, and Chris Westfall, while avoiding destruction at the hands of crazed card collector Bill Abbott on a wild adventure filled with laughs and great card tricks.

More than just another instructional DVD: Eight powerful routines using nothing more than a regular deck of cards. A 90 minute feature length film, including a laymen cut (45min) so you can watch it with your non-magician friends and family. Spend time learning from incredible magicians like: Ben Train, Chris Mayhew, Jeff Hinchliffe, Chris Westfall, and Glenn West. Special appearances by Bill Abbott and Lee Asher. Includes a 40+ page booklet filled with stories, fun facts about the cast & crew, and two routines not taught on the DVD but performed in the movie. Bursting with extra features including: Director's commentary, hilarious outtakes, and a 40 minute interview with Tom & Judy Dawson about collecting playing cards.TRICK LIST

1. Lu Lu Lemon (Chris Mayhew) Based on Paul Harris' La La's Lu Lu, the magician openly isolates a face-down card among a fan of face up cards, then sets the packet aside. While displaying a different packet of cards, the magician asks the spectator to freely name any card they see. In a feat of ultra-coincidence, the original face down-card proves to be the exact card the spectator chose.

2. Colour Changing Deck (Glenn West) A series of clever colour changes carefully blended together to create a visually eye-popping routine. As a special bonus, Glenn teaches his refined handling of Ed Marlo's Snap Change.

3. Wide Open Travelers (Glenn West) Like Ed Marlo's The Open Travelers, four aces travel invisibly from the magician's hand to the table. Each Ace's journey becomes more impressive and impossible than the last. Did we mention only four Aces are used!?!

4. Detour on 51st Street (Ben Train) A pseudo demonstration of shuffle tracking. Two jokers randomly mixed into the pack swiftly find a selection lost earlier in the routine. This will have your spectators convinced you're a professional gambler when it comes to tracking cards.

5. Harmony (Jeff Hinchliffe) Inspired by Dai Vernon's Triumph, cards are shuffled face up and face-down creating a chaotic mess. A spectator picks a card, then the magician claims he can divine subtle pieces of information about the selection from simply mixing the pack. After a handful of shuffles, the selection is revealed face up among the rest of the face-down cards. As a kicker to prove an ultimate display of skill, the cards are turned over to reveal they are now all in new deck order.

6. Oil and Water (Jeff Hinchliffe) A fast-paced multi-phase routine where four red cards are fairly mixed with 4 black cards, but they keep mysteriously separating. Each phase escalates to an impossible climax that the spectators won't see coming.

7. Training Wheels (Ben Train) A whimsically fun handling of an Ace production where the magician visually splits the Four of Spades into the four Aces in one seamless motion. So amazing and easy, people will want to chop off your hands to perform it.

8. Hold 'em Seductively (Chris Westfall) A Texas Hold 'em themed transposition based on Paul Harris' Seductive Switch where the magician trades his lousy cards for better ones using his magical powers. After witnessing this routine, your friends will think twice before playing cards with you again.

Reviews

Stephan Sloan

Official Reviewer

Feb 13, 2023

Overview

A Series of Unfortunate Effects is a totally unique, zany, funny and enjoyable way to learn magic. Eight tricks are performed and explained unlike any traditional tutorial DVD you have seen. The tricks are taught within the framework of a movie. Starring in the movie are card men, Lee Asher, Bill Abbott, Glenn West, Jeff Hinchliffe, Chris Westfall, Chris Mayhew and Ben Train. The plot is based around Chris Mayhew wanting to learn a trick from Lee Asher. Lee Asher is willing to teach him a trick but for a price. Now the quest begins as Chris Mayhew and Ben Train try to make their way through the convoluted magical underground to get them closer to their goal. Not only is the movie fun to watch but the performances were superb and the plot, although a bit silly, has its twists and turns. You may wonder did Chris Mayhew finally get what he wanted from Lee Asher? Well, you’ll have to get the DVD to see.

Effect

Within the framework of a movie, Chris Mayhew and Ben Train has to navigate the whims of temperamental magicians, odd characters and outright bizarre behavior to extricate the explanation of every trick. The tricks include an Open Travelers routine, A Poker Deal with a card transposition, an Oil and Water separation with the deck separating as well to a Color Changing Deck and more.

Method

Not surprisingly, considering the performers, sleight of hand is the method of choice. This is not for you average card man. The methods involve are geared more to the advanced intermediate to advanced card handler. Be prepared to practice moves such as palms, turnover moves, pinky counts and other more difficult sleights.

Product Quality

I thoroughly enjoyed watching this DVD set. I’m sure what everyone wants to know is how are the tricks shown. The setting for each performance was at each performers house or apartment. The trick is shown and the explanation followed. The sleights were not taught which is why familiarity with advanced card moves are needed for one to comprehend the explanations. The pace for the performances and explanations are fine if one already knows the moves. The photography, lighting and sound were all of good quality.

Ad Copy Integrity

The ad copy is very thorough and covers each trick taught and the extras included on a second DVD. What is NOT stated is that this is geared for more advanced card handlers and not being a highly skilled card manipulator, if I were to purchase this for the tricks, I would have disappointed. That being said, if you wanted to watch an incredibly clever way to learn magic, get inspired, have fun and get enthused about this great interest that is magic, I recommend this to everyone.
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