Card Competition

14 December 2006

I was sitting back and enjoying the performances and not making notes. The review is therefore only as accurate as my memory allows! And tonight, more than usual, there were several repetitions and similarities between the effects performed.

Geoff Hunt performed a routine I hadn't seen before. I guess you could call it a 'Colour Changing Deck' routine, only it was the faces of the cards which changed colour. This led naturally into an 'Oil & Water' routine, culminating in the whole deck separating into 'reds and blacks'. Apparently black cards are heavier than red cards! Who would have thought it?

I really like the way Rosman begins his acts. He seems quite comfortable just chatting and connecting with his audience before getting on with the magic in hand. Memorably, he performed Daniel Garcia's - Torn. In my opinion, this is one of the most wonderful and visual pieces of card magic ever created and Rosman certainly did it justice, performing it beautifully. He also performed 'Easy Ace Estimation', 'Phoenix' and a variation of Jay Sankey's - Paper Clipped.

Mike Pettit performed a 'Three Card Monte' routine and a really clean 'Coincidence' effect ending with a deck full of blank cards. He finished with a complicated looking 'Ace Assembly' with a 'royal flush' kicker! If memory serves me correctly, Mike attempted this during last year's competition but something went wrong. It was worth the wait Mike!

Ryan is an intriguing, funny and offbeat character and he has a unique and different performing style. He walked on stage with his jacket over his head and scotch tape over his mouth and performed Jon Allen's - Silent Treatment. His audience management however, could do with a bit of work. He then performed a routine mid-way up the aisle with his back to at least a third of the audience. Some of us were baying for his blood and we duly got it. He swallowed several razor blades before cutting his tongue, bleeding all over his arm and revealing a previously selected card. His final trick ended with a large hole through the centre of the deck.

Ali Ceurvorst has been an alcoholic for four years, spent ten years of his life in Japan and learnt the 'Three Card Monte' on the streets of New York! Something just doesn't add up here. Still, his magic is strong and he showed some good skills with cards in hand - relying more on technique tonight than mathematics! Amongst other routines, he performed a -Four Ace Production and the Ambitious Card. the card ending up in his pocket, folded in quarters and stapled.

I don't immediately recall what Matt Parr did - and I mean this as a compliment. What I do remember is him - his presentation. I remember his energy and the feeling of his act. It was uplifting and exciting.

I now remember the music (more upbeat this time, and maybe more in line with his performing style) and the manipulation - which was for the large part immaculate. I am recalling Matt performing a very clean Rising Card, a card's name etched on his arm and a series of Transpositions, Vanishes and Appearances.

Matt's magic is always unique, and his presentations often bold, and tonight it all seemed to fit together. Anyway, Matt won the competition and deservedly so!

Giles

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