Act II

When Theater of the Mind was published itdrew acclaim from mentalists and magicians, professional and amateur alike. Richardsonexhibited an unerring track record for fashioning astonishing effects androutines, dressed in powerful and engaging presentations and supported byingenious, practical methods.

In Act Two,Barrie Richardson features 54 tricks,ideas and routines. Mostinclude full presentations that use humanity, humor and an unfaltering sense ofdrama, that culminate in feats that are clearly impossible and thoroughlyamazing.Alongwith some of his most prized routines, Richardson includes examples taken fromhis repertoire of motivational talks for public and business audiences. Thescenes in Act Two amount to what might be called a modern "miracleplay."

Here is a scant sampling of the action: 

·Spectators name any card and a position in thedeck.

·They count down to that position in an isolatedpack and find their card at the precise number they chose. The performer nevertouches the cards, there are no forces or switches, and the deck isungimmicked. 

·Remarkable new billet techniques are applied toordinary business cards and Post-It notes to create astonishing effects of mindreading. 

·A deck of cards, shuffled by two spectators,mysteriously separates into reds and blacks in their hands, while the performertells of mysteries experienced on Mt. Kenya at the equator. 

·Various feats of superhuman memory and rapidcalculation convince audiences of the performer's extraordinary mental powersand their own.

·A strange solid form materializes under anungimmicked cloth napkin, and then just mysteriously melts away. 

·The true and complete method is revealed for theancient Jar of Rice Suspension, presented to a tale of training andaccomplishment in China. 

·Ground-breaking methods are explained for thedivining of one or several mentally selected cards. 

Also included are:

·three new deck-switches, done while standing, thatrequire no sleights or use of pockets;

·a deck that secretly unshuffles itself after beingmixed by a spectator;

 and many more mysteries using coins, bills,magazines, marbles, rope and more.

Frequently,sequels fail to live up to their predecessors. That is not the case here. Youwon't want to miss Act Two.

A quality hardcover, 382 pages of baffling andpractical material, loaded with full presentations.