"Akross" DVD by Sean Fields
Suggested Retail USD$25.00
Available from your favorite dealer
In a Blink: 7 Out of 10

"Akross", a new DVD by Sean Fields, is an interesting take on the classic, with some great presentational pieces that will get huge reactions from audiences, but the downsides may keep this one from getting much of a work out from many performers.

I've got to confess to probably being a little hyper-critical here. The "cards across" plot is one of those things I consider a very cherished gem and, after learning and performing a few billion of the things (or so it feels), I've gotten both jaded and picky when it comes to any new entrants to the field, such as "Akross".

"Akross" is actually very good. It's pretty simple to do (there's only one sleight that might make a few wince, but they'll get over it with practice), it doesn't require a whole ton of gaffs to pull off (only a couple of gaffed cards that you'll probably need to pick up at a magic shop), and it packs a punch thanks to the presentation and handling Fields has given it. It also is quite flexible, which I think is Fields genius stroke here: it can be done with pretty much any number of cards. Want to do it with five? Do it with five. Ten? Probably testing the spectators' patience, but do it with ten. Want to keep it simple and do it with two or three? Go for it. No matter the number, the handling doesn't change all that much. That flexibility is a very neat thing.

But the drawbacks are a little too stiff to make this one something that'll be done regularly by the workers out there. In addition to needing a table -- this isn't all that "in their hands" at some points -- you'll also be packing two decks around, which are set-up and dirty. If you're like me and your pockets are already starting to bulge, this ain't exactly desirable. At the end, you'll be left with one dirty deck and one clean one, which doesn't do a whole lot to relieve the pocket real estate. And you'll probably need some privacy to reset things; it only takes seconds, but it's not something that'll happen in front of the spectators or likely as you're moving from table to table.

Do the cons outweigh the pros on "Akross"? For me, it did. There are other versions out there that pack the same punch without the extra baggage and, really, the capability of doing this for any number of spectators -- the big selling point of "Akross" -- just wasn't that valuable to me. You may think differently.

If you're on the fence with this one, Fields also attempts to sweeten the pot a bit by including three other pieces playing with the teleportation theme. "Krossed Up" is a two-deck, two-card transpo that has a red card traveling to a blue deck and vice versa. "Singularity" is a great routine, with a thought-of card traveling from one half of the deck to the other. And finally there's "Duality" in which two chosen cards change places visibly. Of these, "Singularity" is the one to see as it's the best of the lot; "Krossed Up" suffers pretty much as "Akross" does and "Duality" is dangerously close to being filler.

Now, having said all of that, "Akross" is one of those things I'm glad I got even if I never perform it. It's a clever idea and one that may -- just may -- make it into a more formal performance a time or two. Even if it doesn't, it's still something to be seen, appreciated, and filed away in that good ol' mental trunk of ours where all such worthy ideas reside.

For me, that makes it worth the purchase. But if you're looking for something you'll perform often and repeatedly, you might be happier looking elsewhere.

"Akross" DVD by Sean Fields
In a Blink: 7 Out of 10

Material: 9
This is a very slick idea that is quite flexible and packs a punch -- spectators go gah-gah over this one and rightfully so: to them it's just unbelievably clean and purely impossible. It's hampered by practicality issues, though, that may end up relegating this one to the bookshelf instead of your act.

Practicality: 5
You'll need a table. You'll need two decks. You'll need privacy to reset things. You end partially dirty (one deck is dirty, the other clean). You need to watch your angles. All in all, this is one that has a lot of baggage to work with or around, depending on your proclivity toward it.

Quality of Production: 4
Normally, Fields does a great job with production. Here, though, things fell apart pretty fast. The sound is garbled and required a lot of playing with a mixer to get it smoothed out. Then there's the navigation, which is a jigsaw puzzle of things that is just plain confusing. Then there's the missing piece of this -- the gaffed cards -- which is a little aggravating. All in all, Fields has done much better in the past.

Quality of Instruction: 8
Fields does a very good job of teaching his material. A little more clarity would help in spots, but overall you'll have little problem learning his work.

Presentation: 9
This is, without a doubt, a very nice, very clean, and ultimately mind-blowing version of the classic plot. It's that cleanliness that gives it the punch and will leave spectators gasping. The only problem, if there is one, is that there's a lot of handling here that other versions don't have.


Shane

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