"Duplicity" by John Bannon
Suggested Retail USD$15.00
Available from your favorite dealer
In a Blink: 10 Out of 10

"Duplicity", the second trick in John Bannon's "Fractal Card Magic" series, is "Twisted Sisters" taken to the Twilight Zone with a punch that sets it apart and a bit ahead of the original, making this one powerful piece of magic.

I have to get my personal biases out of the way here. I'm a huge fan of John Bannon's work. If the man wrote a routine using Hippity Hop rabbits, I'd find a way of putting 'em in my pocket and go strolling with 'em because I know that routine would be a killer. It would be fresh. It would leave a mark on cerebellums everywhere I went.

Bannon's magic is that way. It's always wonderful stuff.

For proof of this, I offer up "Duplicity".

"Twisted Sisters" it is, sure. But it's "Twisted Sisters" on a different level, if not a step-up on the original at the very least a step sideways. True, it's still the "thought-of card travels from one packet to the other", but with a difference. It goes like this:

Two packets of four face down cards are shown. One is red-backed, the other blue. The spectator names an Ace while the performer chooses the mate to that one (so two black Aces are used, or two red Aces). One packet is selected and given to the spectator. Both packets are spread -- one by the performer, the other by the spectator, revealing the selected Aces are now face up, the spectator's Ace in the performer's packet and the performer's Ace face up in the spectator's packet. These Aces are then removed by the spectator and shown to be different colored backs so that a red-backed Ace is in the blue packet and vice versa. The remaining cards are then turned over and seen to be completely blank.

At this point, the spectator will grab the cards -- this is too powerful not to evoke that reaction. So let them grab and examine to their hearts' content. You are completely clean here, with no switching or ditching or anything remotely like it.

Did you catch the powerful differences here? "Duplicity" is clean. The spectator is completely engaged here, naming cards, spreading packets, turning over cards... In fact, if you wanted, you could have two spectators do everything with your role reduced to that of producing the presentation and the required Magical Gesture. In the end, that's what sets "Duplicity" apart from it's twin, "Twisted Sisters".

But is it better? That's in the eye of the beholder and what you're after. The original offers a freer choice of cards but uses gimmicked cards which must be dealt with. "Duplicity" is cleaner in handling and appearance, but offers a more limited selection of the cards. Personally, I'll take the cleaner handling of "Duplicity". Having so much in the spectator's hands is a beautiful idea and makes for a powerful effect. When you're deciding on this one, all you really have to consider are those differences.

Well, not "all"... "Duplicity" is a heckuva thoughtful production. Not only do you get Bannon on DVD teaching "Duplicity" (and an accompanying ebook with the full explanation of the routine, which always gets high marks from me), you also have an additional bonus: "Party of One". This is a simple effect that is worth the price of the disc itself. In it, the two Jokers are cut into the pack, one at a time. The spectator is asked to name any Queen. The performer spreads the deck and there are four cards between the Jokers. The spectator is asked to eliminate three of the cards, leaving one. This one is turned over to reveal the freely named Queen. Was it just luck? Probably, since the spectator turns over the three eliminated cards, revealing them to be three Sevens.

I'll be as frank as I can be here: get this. If you do "Twisted Sisters", "Duplicity" may end up being your favorite version anyway. If it isn't, so be it: the added bonus is as worthy an effect as you can find out there anyway. Between the two effects, and for the incredibly low price, you simply can't go wrong here.

Besides, it's John Bannon and you know how his magic is...

"Duplicity" by John Bannon
In a Blink: 10 Out of 10

Practicality: 10
Packs small, the simplest of resets and set-ups, completely examinable... This is about as practical as it gets. Couple that with an easy handling (or the no-handling version) allowing you to concentrate on your presentation and there's little more you could ask for here.

Workmanship: 10
The cards are printed on Bicycle stock and are exactly what you'd expect.

Documentation: 10
By all rights, this should be a 15. You get the instructions on a very nicely produced DVD, as a excellent PDF, and a bonus effect besides. This is documentation done right.

Effect: 10
I had forgotten just how powerful the "Twisted Sisters" plot was until I took this one out for spin. This drops jaws and freezes brains even more so than the original. This is powerful stuff.

Presentation: 10
This, like so much of Bannon's other works, is beautifully done with an engaging verbal component and a clean handling that is gorgeous.

Shane

Available direct from your favorite dealer. Dealers, please contact FUN, Inc. by phone at (773)745-3837, email at info@funinc.com, or visit the FUN Inc. website.