"Blindsight" by Devin Knight
Suggested Retail USD$20.00
Available from your favorite dealer
In a Blink: 10 Out of 10

"Blindsight", the latest by creative genius Devin Knight, is a perfect example of what a perfectly crafted mentalism routine is capable of: brilliance.

This is Devin Knight we're talking about here, so we expect brilliance, but in "Blindsight" the man even outdid himself.

The effect is about as straightforward as you can get. In it, four colored cards are shown, sealed in four envelopes, and mixed. The spectator then points to an envelope and states what color she thinks is inside. The named color is then written on the envelope. This is repeated with the remaining envelopes. The spectator selects one envelope and sets it aside. The remaining three envelopes are opened and it's seen that the spectator accurately guessed the colors inside all three envelopes. The spectator then picks up the envelope that was set aside and opens it. Inside is the fourth, remaining color (say it's blue). But there's also a slip of paper inside that reads: "The blue envelope will be the one you discard".

Now that's just plain great stuff right there. But the workings make it even better: the envelopes can be examined, no secret writing whatsoever, no switches, no worrying about getting one ahead, no forces of the envelopes or colors, no gimmicks... Well, the list goes on and on.

Normally, I don't dwell on what all isn't use in an effect, but "Blindsight" almost forces that because it gives a fairly good idea just how clean this routine is and, in cleanliness, lies a good dose of the power in this one.

The real strength of the routine, though, is in that climax. This basic plot, after all, has been around for decades, if not longer. Knight added the prediction climax that makes this all come together in a great feat of mentalism. My hat's off to him for the thinking involved in this one.

Things you should know going in: this is Devin Knight at his finest. That means that, if you're after some new whiz-bang prop or the like, you're going to be disappointed. In fact, the workings behind "Blindsight" are as old as the hills. If you've been around the block a couple of times, nothing here will surprise you. What will get you is how Knight structured those old methods together into a tight routine. That'll knock your socks off.

Also, this is a fairly easy routine to do, but you'll need to practice it a lot to get comfortable with it. You're going to do more thinking than finger-flinging here and you'll need to get the handling down to the point where it's all second nature to you. I say that not to make this sound impossible to do but to warn that thinking you can do this an hour or so after opening the envelope is, well, let's be polite and say erroneous.

Lastly, those of us who love to change things around and make them a bit more personal will find that "Blindsight" can be altered a bit to change the basic plot from colors to pictures or cards or pretty much anything that can be put on paper and inside the envelopes. Truthfully, what you're getting with "Blindsight" is less about the props than the routine itself and that routine is fairly flexible. I can see some folks doing this with tarot cards, for example, with very little trouble.

So how does "Blindsight" play? Masterfully. This knocks spectators for a loop. With that climax, a clean handling, and a direct plot, how could it not? This one is a true keeper and one you'll find yourself doing often.

This really is another of Devin Knight's "reputation makers that is priced way too low."

"Blindsight" by Devin Knight
In a Blink: 10 Out of 10

Practicality: 10
A quick, almost instant reset, a slight set-up, no severe angles to worry with, packs very small... this is about as practical a piece of work as you can get.

Workmanship: 10
Everything here, from the envelopes to the cards to the pens, is very well made and should last a long time with proper care. But no worries if anything gets damaged: replacements are as close as a trip to your local office supply store.

Documentation: 10
Knight goes into exquisite detail here, covering all the moves, all the psychology, and all the work. You'll not only learn everything you need to pull this one off, you'll also get an education in audience thinking.

Effect: 10
This one absolutely floors people. Period. If you're after a solid piece, this is it.

Presentation: 10
Isn't it amazing what a good climax can do? Knight, by adding that climax and keeping so much of the spotlight on the spectator, has a carefully crafted presentation that work perfectly.


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.