The Modern Mystic League
APRIL 2025
Blackburn & District Society of Magicians
Andrew Normansell, always a popular visitor to the MML, returned again this month with a lot of new material and a few new gags.
First to be seen was The Eye of Horus; a card effect involving a crimp, a false shuffle and the ‘Vulcan Mind Meld’.
Next came Forced Option, including an effective utility force for numbers between five and ten, which could be employed for a range of purposes.
The concept behind one lovely gag (Hopeless Case) originated with the fertile imagination and inspiration of Peter Kane in the ‘70s, refined by John Cornelius. This was a diminishing card box, which originally halved in size but never really had the impact it deserved. Andrew’s simple solution was to casually exchange a bridge-sized box for a poker-sized one during the course of a routine, then watch as a spectator created hilarity by attempting to put the deck back in the slightly undersized box.
Then we had a David Roth inspired coins across, lifted from the realms of close-up to a stage effect; the piece de resistance being a highly entertaining cards-across routine (Economy Flight) which was so simple in its execution – just requiring a bit of nerve and decisive action, but definitely no sleight of hand. It also involved a bicycle horn.
First to be seen was The Eye of Horus; a card effect involving a crimp, a false shuffle and the ‘Vulcan Mind Meld’.
Next came Forced Option, including an effective utility force for numbers between five and ten, which could be employed for a range of purposes.
The concept behind one lovely gag (Hopeless Case) originated with the fertile imagination and inspiration of Peter Kane in the ‘70s, refined by John Cornelius. This was a diminishing card box, which originally halved in size but never really had the impact it deserved. Andrew’s simple solution was to casually exchange a bridge-sized box for a poker-sized one during the course of a routine, then watch as a spectator created hilarity by attempting to put the deck back in the slightly undersized box.
Then we had a David Roth inspired coins across, lifted from the realms of close-up to a stage effect; the piece de resistance being a highly entertaining cards-across routine (Economy Flight) which was so simple in its execution – just requiring a bit of nerve and decisive action, but definitely no sleight of hand. It also involved a bicycle horn.
STAR LECTURE
with
ANDREW NORMANSELL
with
ANDREW NORMANSELL
Before that came Gypsy Oracle, which employed a very natural but nifty card move hidden behind an innocent envelope flap.
The talk was interspersed with some original sight gags, including a large fake ear to ‘hear’ a whispered chosen card.
Harlequin took the scenario of detecting a black ball chosen from a bag also containing four white ones to a new level by rejecting previous ingenious methods and gimmicks and simply using a paper bag and paper balls – along with some engaging patter which made the effect come alive.
The underlying theme of the session, as with all Andrew does, was the putting aside of fancy methods in favour of directness and simplicity to achieve exactly the same response. Why make things harder for yourself when you can concentrate upon presentation and entertainment?
Andrew was warmly thanked for his efforts, as was Craig for the refreshments, which soon performed their own vanishing act.
Brian Lead
The talk was interspersed with some original sight gags, including a large fake ear to ‘hear’ a whispered chosen card.
Harlequin took the scenario of detecting a black ball chosen from a bag also containing four white ones to a new level by rejecting previous ingenious methods and gimmicks and simply using a paper bag and paper balls – along with some engaging patter which made the effect come alive.
The underlying theme of the session, as with all Andrew does, was the putting aside of fancy methods in favour of directness and simplicity to achieve exactly the same response. Why make things harder for yourself when you can concentrate upon presentation and entertainment?
Andrew was warmly thanked for his efforts, as was Craig for the refreshments, which soon performed their own vanishing act.
Brian Lead
