Steven Blair`s blog of magic & life

Hey people of the interwebs Steven back again with yet another blog post. This post is going to be 100% aimed at magicians so apologies in advance to my non magician readers.

Before I just start I want to say a huge thanks to everyone who came out to see me perform close up magic and cabaret at Live@Troon it was a great night and I had good fun performing for the crowd. Check out some photos from the event by clicking here.

In today’s post I will be reviewing a magic effect that has only been on the market for less than 2 months and already is on the way to be one of the biggest selling tricks of the year and this trick comes from Theory11 and my friend Edward Boswell. In case you haven’t heard of Edward (who was featured in a previous post) before check out some of his work on his website for magicians by clicking here. 

Edward Boswell

Today the effect I am reviewing is called Rapture. First I would like to say the following review is my honest opinion so if it is a bad review I am just speaking my mind. Secondly just because Edward is friend of mine it doesn’t mean I will be nicer to him in my review. So let’s get started.

Name of product: Rapture (an effect so impossibly visual, it looks like trick photography) 

 

Rapture by Edward Boswell

Price: $19.95 for the DVD, $19.95 for the download and $24.95 for the DVD and Download

 

Available from: http://www.theory11.com/tricks/rapture-by-edward-boswell or your favourite magic dealer.

Theory 11 logo

 

Quick Description:

Imagine an effect so impossibly visual, it looks like trick photography.

This is what we imagined when we first heard of Rapture. We didn’t think it could be possible. If you could perform REAL magic, this is what it would look like. Rapture is a miraculous change, where a card box can appear and disappear in the blink of an eye. You show the front and back of a card box. Suddenly with a jolt, the entire box disappears, leaving only the cards - a normal deck - in your hands.A practical method created for the performer. This isn’t just a trick to be performed for your webcam. Rapture was born for the performer.

It uses a simple and practical method that allows you to perform it anywhere and everywhere. The Rapture gimmick utilizes household items and can be constructed in a few minutes. It’s durable enough to be used for hundreds of performances, yet small enough to fit in your pocket.
One Hour of Instruction: 3 Routines + Bonus Effect “UPRISING”

In over an HOUR of instruction, Edward Boswell will teach you multiple applications using the Rapture gimmick. You’ll learn how to make the box appear, disappear, and even teleport. Also included is a bonus effect UPRISING: a chosen card is placed on the bottom of the deck, sticking out. Then, as if melting through the deck, it slowly and visually rises to the top.

 

Trailer:

 

Quality of the product:

The DVD runs for around 60 minutes and is shot in what looks like a penthouse apartment and uses multiple cameras. Everything is explained really well from the construction of the gimmick to the handling of the effect and Edward also goes on to give you the history of the effect. When you hear it’s from Theory11 you know that it is excellently produced and it lives up to my expectations. 9/10 

My honest opinion on the effect: 

I remember Edward showing me the original concept of this trick about maybe just under a year ago and it fooled the crap out of me. I have since seen this trick develop into the effect it is today. I eventually after watching Edward perform this 1001 times I had a brief idea of what was happening but wasn’t 100% sure. This trick is great it’s so practical I use it as an opener to a card set where the box vanishes and goes into my pocket I then follow this with any card trick because I am left with a regular pack of cards. This would work great as either a closer, an opener or even in between. Edward explains the construction of the gimmick really well my only advice would be to watch the full construction section of the DVD/Download just so you don’t make a mistake not because it’s hard to make but you could get lost if you don’t know whats coming next. The routines on the dvd/download are not amazing but they are just to get you started. The routines I like on the DVD/ Download are the box penetration and the deck and box transposition which is the one I use but with some imagination you would be able to come up with a routine to suit your style. As well as rapture the DVD/download also includes a bonus effect called uprising if I am honest I don’t really like this effect that much it looks great but I just don’t like it and I don’t know why. Over all this is a great effect and has a lot of possibility’s I can’t wait to see what people come up with using the gimmick in the future.

Card case to deck

Rating out of 10: 

As you can see above I really like rapture and I have since the early stages of this effect. If you want to do a vanishing card box effect or you want a magical way to put your cards back in the card case at the end of your set then this is perfect for you. This trick is one of my favourite tricks to practise in the mirror because it fools me every time. The bonus effect uprising I don’t like that much but if you want a visual rising card then I think you will like this. Overall I give Rapture 8/10

Well that’s it from me for just now any questions regarding anything in this post feel free to contact me on any of the ways listed below. I will be back soon with another post.

Thanks 
Steven Blair :)


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