"Riser Deck" by Mark Elsdon
Suggested Retail USD$90.00
Available from your favorite dealer
In a Blink: 9 Out of 10

Mark Elsdon's latest effect, "Riser Deck", is one of the cleanest, simplest, logical, and shocking conclusions for the "Ambitious Card" plot around. Period. End of story.

It goes like this: the performer has been doing his favorite "Ambitious Card" routine. That signed, selected card has been popping up on top of the deck a few times, hopefully in as magical a fashion as they can muster. The performer cases the deck and puts it away, leaving the signed card with the spectator, then decides that they'll do it one last time, under what is referred to in the presentation as "test conditions". The deck is brought back out, the case opened, and the deck pulled out of the box a bit. The spectator is asked to push the signed card into the cased deck anywhere they want. The case is closed and given a little shake. The case is reopened, the deck pulled a bit out of the case, and the top card removed. It is the signed card.

Hopefully that will give you an idea of exactly how clean this is, how utterly impossible it looks. It's a mind-blower, plain and simple.

Then when you look at the details, it's hard not to fall in love with this one.

There is no set-up. There is no reset. There is no force of any kind when it comes to the spectator placing their card in the deck: wherever they put it is up to them. You never touch the signed card after you give it to the spectator; they do all the work. And when it comes to the climax, you can even have the spectator remove the top card themselves if you want.

Now, probably obviously, "Riser Deck" is based on Daryl's "Ultimate Ambition" (credit is given to Daryl on the disc, just so you know). I have to say that "Riser Deck" has become my preferred finish. This is not slighting Daryl's version in the least but, really, it comes down to personal taste at some point and my taste runs to "Riser Deck". First, I like the "self-contained" factor of the deck being put into the case. It's natural, logical, and it flows perfectly. Second, I like the spectator putting the card back wherever they want, pushing it flush, and pulling it back off the top of the deck later. There's a cleanliness there, a performer's "non-involvement" that appeals to me. And appeals to spectators, evidently, because this one knocks 'em for a loop.

As to drawbacks of "Riser Deck", there really isn't one. Oh, sure, you have to ring in the gaffs and that requires a bit of pocket space, but it's such a small requirement here that I really hesitate to mention it except as an informational tidbit. Simply put, you'll need to make room for a dedicated gaffed deck and that's that.

I love this thing and I loved it as soon as I saw the work of it. It is brilliantly conceived and wonderfully made. Rob Bromley, who makes these by hand, gets a major thumbs-up here. Bromley is touted as a "master-craftsman" and I agree with that assessment wholeheartedly. It's easily worth the price tag for any worker looking for a great finish to their existing "Ambitious Card".

Those are, perhaps, the only two requirements to consider when it comes to "Riser Deck". This is not a stand-alone effect -- don't even think about it. This was designed as a climax for "Ambitious Card" and only works as such. More, the price tag is hefty and deservedly so. If you're a worker, the amount of money you plop down for this is small compared to the responses you'll get; the casual hobbyist and the simply curious should pass this one by.

But if you're working for audiences regularly, and you've got an "Ambitious Card" routine that you want to add a powerful climax to that you're love doing, then "Rising Deck" is something you'll want and, probably, fall in love with.

"Riser Deck" by Mark Elsdon
In a Blink: 9 Out of 10

Practicality: 9
The only drawback here is loosing the pocket space to (what could be) yet another dedicated trick deck. This is such a minor thing for most workers it barely needs mentioning. As for set-ups and resets, there aren't any; put "Riser" in your pocket and you're ready to go.

Workmanship: 10
This is one extremely well made piece of equipment and should last indefinitely with care. It's made from Bicycle parts and is available in red or blue.

Documentation: 10
The documentation, supplied on a DVD, is wonderfully thorough and excellently taught. You'll have no problems learning the ins-and-outs of "Riser Deck".

Effect: 10
This is a powerful, logical conclusion to any "Ambitious Card" routine and garners wonderful reactions from spectators. You couldn't ask for more.

Presentation: 10
There's little more to this one than the apparent cleanliness and the spectator involvement, but that carries so much weight in this one it can't be ignored.

Shane

Available direct from your favorite dealer. Dealers, please contact Murphy's Magic Supplies, Inc. toll-free at 1-800-853-7403 or visit Murphy's Magic Supplies website.