Penguin Live Online Lecture – Rafael Benatar

“He possesses that essential factor that separates the outstanding magician from all the others: charm. He will amaze and astonish you but you are so charmed by his personality that you could not possibly resent it.” – Charles Reynolds, GENII

“Great hands, great intelligence, great feeling.” – Juan Tamariz

“Rafael Benatar gently and seductively insinuates his enchantments into an audience’s collective consciousness. He does not pummel audiences with puzzles or vex them with bewilderments. Instead, he gifts them with the wonderments of their own dreams.” – Jon Racherbaumer

“Rafael is not only an excellent performer and entertainer but, even more important, has a thorough understanding of his craft.” – Martin A. Nash

“Rafael has a real flair for presentation and his sleights are smooth as silk. He is well-read in card magic, has a fine appearance, and a charming personality.” – Michael Skinner

“He does it all better than all the rest.” – Billy McComb

“Rafael Benatar’s ‘Something Special’ was one of the most beautiful and original shows I have ever enjoyed at the world-famous Magic Castle. The combination of gorgeous music and exquisite card magic left the audience spellbound.” – Todd Karr

“Rafael is, without any doubt, a master of that weapon, so difficult to handle, but so greatly efficient, which is timing.” – Arturo de Ascanio

“His work contains an element that is missing in so many contemporary performances – an emotional appeal. Here is a magician who truly applies the theory of magic in his own brand of mystification.” – Jack Birnman

“The subtleties, the delicate touch, and the underlying construction are major advancements. I wish Eddie Marlo was here to see his handling of Devilish Miracle.” – Simon Aronson

“His thinking is superb and his card handling is exquisite.” – Michael Close, MAGIC Magazine

What Will He Teach?

Once in a Hundred Years: After a spectator shuffles the deck, they touch four cards at random. You cleanly extract these selections, and they confirm these are their choices. They then search for their favorite Ace to place among the four cards you hold face down. Despite their efforts, they can’t find any Aces, and you reveal that they have indeed selected the four Aces.

Crossed Destinies: This is Rafael’s interpretation of a classic Vernon trick. Three coins seamlessly transfer from one hand to the other without unnecessary moves or displays, leaving many experts baffled.

69: A card is chosen and lost in the deck. You reveal the top card as the Six of Spades, but the spectator insists their card was the Nine of Spades. With a twist, the Six visibly transforms into the Nine, which you then reveal to be a Joker.

Countdown: Four Kings are arranged in a T-Formation. One King switches places with another card, and this happens again. Just when the audience expects the last King to join, all the Kings appear in a different pile, a version praised by Michael Skinner as the best O’Henry Assembly he has seen.

Bookmarks: Two decks are shuffled by you and a spectator. A card is inserted as a bookmark in one book, while a spectator thinks of a card from the other deck. After making predictions, you reveal that both match perfectly, showcasing a clever intertwining of choices.

Marmalade Poker: As you riffle through the deck, you extract four cards, which turn out to be the four Kings. Even when the Kings are set aside, the magic continues.