Phil Tilston – The Box

Effect:

Two cards are chosen, signed, and lost in a deck. Instantly, the first card appears inside the box, with the name of the signed card boldly marked on the box. Under astonishing conditions, the second card is also found inside the box, and the spectator retrieves it themselves!

The surprise continues as you flip the box again, revealing the name of the second signed card written in bold black ink.

Our Chief Product Reviewer, Evan Bishop, shares his insights on Phil Tilston and JB Magic’s latest effect:

DVD Production Quality: While the online demo may lack quality, the DVD of The Box is well-produced. Filmed in Mark Mason’s studio, both audio and video are clear. The production is straightforward, effectively serving its purpose. However, the menu lacks a “Play All” feature, requiring manual navigation through the five sections.

Gimmick Quality: Known for clever gimmicks, Mark Mason delivers a simple yet durable design with The Box. Unlike many of his previous creations, this gimmick is robust and should last as long as a standard card case.

Crediting: Unfortunately, there are no credits provided for this effect or its gimmick. It’s surprising that someone as reputable as Mark Mason at JB Magic would omit this information, especially given the similarities to other recent releases. It would have been beneficial to acknowledge the origins of this routine.

Teaching: Mark’s instructional content is thorough, covering all necessary details to master the routine. He offers various options for setup and reset, particularly useful for real-world performances. The teaching segment runs for about 21 minutes, ensuring comprehensive coverage.

Practicality: A major advantage of this routine is its instant reset capability, allowing for repeated performances throughout the evening. However, if the cards are signed, you must replace them before redoing the trick (Mark provides a solution for this on the DVD). Overall, the routine is practical and ideal for restaurant magicians.

Difficulty: The Box is accessible for magicians of all skill levels. While advanced performers might choose to substitute some of Mark’s simpler moves with more complex techniques, the routine remains easy to execute.

Considerations: The gimmick’s lifespan is comparable to that of a regular card case, which may be limited if mishandled. Creating a new gimmick is not feasible, so replacements will be necessary. Additionally, the structure of the routine may feel somewhat anticlimactic, as the card-to-card effect is somewhat diluted by the prediction element. While not poorly constructed, it could benefit from a stronger narrative flow.

Important Note: This routine is designed exclusively for red, rider-backed, Bicycle cards.

Overall: The Box offers a decent routine with engaging magic involving two spectators, instant resets, and minimal pocket space requirements. However, at $30, it may be hard to justify the investment given its potential wear after a few performances. There are superior card-to-card box routines available at The Trick Shop, along with better prediction effects.

While The Box is a quality gimmick that elicits good reactions, it lacks originality. My official rating is 78%.

The Trick Shop Talks Back!

Opener, Middler, Closer? The Box fits well in the middle of your set, engaging two participants and delivering multiple magical moments without disrupting the flow of other tricks. It’s not fast enough to serve as an opener, nor is it memorable enough to be a strong closer.

Examinability: Although the advertisement claims the card case is “fully examinable” after the writing changes, this is only partially true. While the audience can handle the box, it’s advisable to transition to another trick after a brief examination, making it a suitable “middler.”

Other Recommendations: For an exceptional signed card to card box effect with broader applications, consider Encased by Dave Forrest. It employs a similar method to The Box but features more versatile gimmicks and better-structured routines.