Star Trick by Larry Becker, Lee Earle

Effect: THE PHYSICAL ITEMS that come with this effect are few. You get a couple of things you can pick up at any office supply store and an amazing “prediction poster” made up of hundreds of color celebrity photos, printed on a thin but durable space age material, and containing a state of-the-art method of revelation. Seen up close, the 24 x 36 inch poster looks like a grid of varied photos, and it is, but seen at a distance a clear image of Marilyn Monroe is seen in the style of a photo mosaic. This allows for a simple effect: A spectator “freely selects” a celebrity, then points to anyone in the audience. That person is given the job of divining the thought-of star, and of course, via the aid of the specially designed poster, he can. I see tremendous potential for audience involvement and comedy here, as the audience laughs at the appearance of Marilyn’s face, but the on-stage assistant is temporarily kept in the dark in the manner of “Paper Balls Over the Head.”

However, the instructions that come with the prop are, to say the least, unadorned, giving the purchaser basic instructions on how to force the celebrity, and little else. At the high price point of $70, I’d prefer to receive instructions that are rich with performance information, giving me a potential pathway to follow when presenting the effect (hell, I’d prefer that with a cheap item).

For this reason, I recommend this product only to those who feel they can develop an entertaining routine using the prop I’ve described. Considerations: A clever and unique item but at a high price with scant performance instructions.

(David Regal – Genii Magazine, March 2007)

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