Magic Roadshow

Quidnunc Plus – Paul Gordon

Paul Gordon’s latest release is a two DVD set titled.. QUIDNUNC PLUS. Many of you know Paul from some of his past works, including The Gold Dust Trilogy, Quidnunc and Article 52. DVDs include Live In Action, Gold Dust Live 3-DVD set and Quidnunc Plus 2-DVD set. Plus, lecture downloads with Penguin Live and Murphy’s Magic At The Table Experience. Plus, Paul has lectured at virtually every major magic venue and convention in the world. To quote Magicpedia:

“Paul Gordon is noted as one of the best entertainers (with cards) in the business. As an entertainer/magician, he performs on a regular basis all over the world. Among other magicians, Paul Gordon is known for his books on card magic and memoirs of other magicians (Edward G. Brown, Percy Naldrett and Victor Farelli), as well as reprints of out-of-print classics by Ralph Hull, Rusduck, Ed Marlo, Stanley Collins and Eddie Joseph.”

“Paul Gordon’s performance, books, tricks and dvds have received critical acclaim from the likes of Boris Wild, Rafael Benatar, Dan Harlan, Jon Racherbaumer, Jamy Ian Swiss, Peter Duffie, Harry Lorayne, Jim Sisti, Aldo Colombini, David Regal, Stephen Minch, Max Maven, Tom Craven, Alan Shaxon, Walt Lees, J.C Wagner, Shawn Farquhar, Nick Trost, Mike Powers, Roy Walton, J.K Hartman, Paul Green, Paul Hallas, Jack Parker, Bob Sheets Alex Elmsley, Jack Avis, Steve Beam and many others.”

quid·nunc (ˈkwidˌnəNGk) noun – “..an inquisitive and gossipy person.”.

This release includes 22 effects of varying degrees of difficulty. Only one of the effects is what I would call Advanced, a couple are self-working, a couple more are mathematically inclined, not obviously, and most are what can fairly be called intermediate to advance intermediate. Paul uses these effects to make a living, so they have to be proper.. but not such knuckle busters as to cause pain and fear. There’s a lot of double lifts and Elmsley Counts.. a few top changes in moderation, and a palm or two. But, most of the effects are performable after a small amount of practice by the average card guy.

To quote Murphy’s Magic.. “There are strollers, table tricks, packet tricks, cabaret tricks, unusual tricks… and all are strong tricks.” I have to totally agree. If you’re looking for something new.. but proven.. QUIDNUNC PLUS is it…

Disc 1.. 1:25 minutes

Jeepers Creepers on Heat – Five Ten of Spades magically changes to a Royal Flush, and.. the all black backs change to five different backs. Everything can be made up yourself. This is one of two effects on disc#1 that are normally sold by Penguin individually for $25.00 each.

Dudeney’s Baby Boy – Based on a principle from Colombini, a series of cards are intermixed up and down, laid on the table, reassembled per the spectator, and somehow the one face down card matches a prediction from the magician. Self working and interesting. I actually saw Colombini perform a similar version years ago.. and then forgot it. So glad to be reminded…

Ace in the Hole – The four Aces are separated red and black. Two are placed under the spectators hand and transform into all four Aces. This is one of several effects with the Aces, which helps keep your space small and your performance precise.

Balducci Aces #2 – Created for beginners, this looks like a more complicated effect. It’s a great way to introduce the four Aces, or any four of a kind, for your next effect. Uses a Balducci Force and a bit of business to produce the Aces.

Spectrum – Five cards of one suit and value appear to be double backers. They change to five cards with red backs.. and then to five cards with multi-colored backs. Uses the Omega Count, which is taught, and an Elmsley Count to accomplish something very magical. Penguin sells this effect singularly for $25.00

Travelling Light – Four of a kind are removed from the deck and signed by the spectator. After the four are given to a second spectator for safekeeping, one card appears in the performers trouser pocket.. another appears in the jacket inside pocket, and the last two appear in the jacket pockets. This is a very interesting bit of strolling magic, very commercial, and keeps you so far ahead of the spectator there’s little heat.

Easy Collectors Two – Another four Ace effect. The Aces are set on the table, the spectator freely selects three cards from the deck, and after everything is buried back into the deck… the three selections are found interwoven into the Aces. Based on a Marlo effect.

Darned Pain in the Neck – Looks like a spelling effect on steroids. It’s actually much more sophisticated than that and ultimately, surprisingly, turns into a four Ace reveal. Another of those effects that has considerable commercial value.

Workers Supreme – A Card to Wallet created around what appears to be a very simple effect. If you enjoy card to wallet you’ll appreciate this handling.

Perfect Prediction Premonition – A multiple stage effect that is one of my two favorites on disc one. (along with Dudeney’s Baby Boy). The explanation seems complicated, including two perfect faro shuffles, but Paul offers up a perfect alternative to eliminate the faro’s and make you a hero. Will have neophytes and magicians alike scratching their heads.

75% Confident – Four Jacks are revealed in a packet. When it seems as if four Tens are also going to be revealed.. the performer reveals a Royal Flush. I know.. my description is a tad weak.. but the effect isn’t. You have to see the video!

Disc 2 .. 1hr and 42 min.

Rising Damp – Three indifferent cards and a Jack of Spades changes to four Jacks, all of different suits, in the magician’s hands. Perhaps one of the more challenging effects in this series.. but well worth the effort to learn.

The Churchill Crown – A card is freely chosen by the spectator. The magi places a Churchill crown coin on top of the card, on the table, for safe keeping. The magi then looks through the deck and selects what he alleges to be a mate to the selected card. After stating that the mate to his selection is under the crown, it’s revealed to NOT be a mate… but a miniature mate is revealed in an unusual location instead. Then, suddenly and surprisingly, the indifferent card in the magi’s hand is revealed to be the real mate, producing a sudden surprise ending.

Bluff ACAAN – Sort of a cross between an ACAAN and a fooler. What appears to be an ACAAN is really a well-planned move. Easy to do, quick, and much easier than the real deal.

Dream Away – A non-gaffed version of the Dream Card effect. Paul uses a couple of well-taught sleights to change a signed blue back card in the deck into a signed red back card in the pocket.

The Ultimate Transposition – Based on Sadowitz’ ‘The More Things Change’. Four signed cards are placed in four pockets. Four other cards are shown, and using an Ambitious Cards type routine, the four cards on the table slowly change to the four cards in the pocket.. and the four cards in the pockets are shown to be the four former cards on the table. Another very commercial effect… not easy, but well worth your time and effort.

Ace Tumblers – A card is selected and returned to the deck. The four Aces are shown and returned to the deck. In an instant, the deck is spread and the four Aces are now face up in the center of the deck… and the face down card between the Aces is the selection. Another quick effect that gets everyone’s attention.

Tally-Ho Simplified – Based on the work of Harry Lorayne and a Henry Christ effect, and using Tally Ho cards, this mathematical based effect is self-working and seemingly impossible. Another of my favorites in this series of effects. Much easier to perform than the original and, in my opinion, almost as effective. Christ original produces a royal flush while Paul’s produces the four Nines.. but for a good reason, as explained on the DVD.

Unusual Method Oil & Water – Paul has created a packet effect using 8 red cards and 8 black cards, mixing them in typical oil and water fashion, letting the spectator shuffle the packet, and somehow reverting the packet to its original position. I like the thinking and the effect. Yes, it’s mathematical based.. but it plays real and looks real. Another of my favorites on disc #2.

Witch Mountain Revisited – Four Queens are shown and then placed on the table side by side. The spectator picks a Queen and it’s pushed forward of the other Queens. Three cards are placed on top of each Queen.. and as the packets are each shown, the Queen in that packet has vanished and appears in the forward packet. One Queen, then two, three.. and finally four magically transpose. Very visual effect and not as challenging as some effects. I have to say this, too, is one of my favorites.

Q & A – Several magicians ask Paul a variety of questions.. the most interesting of which is (to me) about his classic EASY ACES. He basically explains Easy Aces and demonstrates the moves. Although he doesn’t go into the same detail his commercial download provides, he gives enough information for the intermediate performer to grasp it. If nothing else, folks will appreciate this wonderful Ace assembly and its true ease of performing.
Paul also reveals he can remember the names of about 200 people.. in the same room, by using Harry Lorayne’s Memory System. His reasons for this bit of magic are obvious and true.
Are small hands a deterrent? Paul discusses his very small hands, and the fact he can’t perform deep palm work… and how he overcame it.
One of the more direct questions is.. “Can you make a living performing card magic?” I’m not going to reveal his answer, but his thinking is encouraging.

Paul makes a living performing card magic. Not many performers in the world can make that claim. Most have to perform a variety of magic and sell tons of effects to make a decent living. Paul’s different.. and his DVD is different. If you’re looking for several new effects to add to your repertoire, Quidnunc Plus provides them in spades.

Although I don’t usually.. I’m including a short promo video of Paul working in the real world, performing a couple of these effects to the delight of his audience. https://youtu.be/TZVSYKKs5bo .. This will give you an idea of Paul’s skill. Note the speed, which you couldn’t achieve if these were truly advanced effects. That’s not a negative statement.. but an affirmation of everything I’m trying to say.

Available from dealers who carry the Murphy’s Magic line of magic products.
$30.00 .. just over three hours in length.

https://www.murphysmagic.com/product.aspx?id=59191

Reviewed by.. Rick Carruth