Price$69.50
Media TypeTrick
CategoryMentalism
Date AddedFeb 01, 2008
Szechuan Sampler 2.0
Larry Becker and Lee Earle
(Based on 1 review)
"You will be the host for our culinary caper," explains the Mentalist, "so hand three of those menus to folks you will invite to join you. And this, (placing a letter-size card in full view) is our gift certificate for the expenses, tax and tip included."
Once the menus are distributed, the 'host' is instructed, "As our gastronomical guide, you may choose a dish from any course on the menu - we don't have to go in order. Which course shall it be? ("A side dish")"
The performer takes out a pad and marking pen and, after inquiring which item is being ordered, writes it down and asks, "How much is it?" The amount is openly written down on the pad.
All of the others each choose a different course and item from their menus with each name and price duly recorded in a column on the pad. "I'm certain that each of you will agree," reminds the Mentalist, "that if you had chosen a different course, the selection ordered would have varied and the price would not be the same, correct?" All the participants agree.
"Let's determine the total bill," suggests the performer, holding the pad in full view as he adds the price of each freely selected item. "It appears the dinner will cost $23.45. Not bad for a party of four. Let's see how much of that amount the gift certificate covers."
The gift certificate is turned around and is seen to be printed with the amount $23.45!
This routine comes with professionally designed and printed menus, all of them (except the paper takeout menu) are glossy coated for years of use. In addition, each menu has hidden cues for some of the most outrageous (and definitely un-PC) gag lines you could possibly imagine, which turn the effect from mere mental magic into belly-spitting entertainment.
Szechuan Sampler is ready to go - no setup is required. The routine uses no forces, no gimmicks, no stooges, and nothing added or taken away. If you are working a repeat show, you may rest assured that the final total will be different. It's the perfect 'packs flat, plays big' presentation that you can perform right away.
Reviews
(Top ▲)
This is the second version of this effect and I want to apologize up front because I have no idea if this is an improvement. The ad states that there are new full color menu designs and new gags with cues hidden in the menus.
Four participants are given Chinese food menus. They each select an item. When the prices of the items are totaled, the amount matches the prediction of the performer.
The packet I received contains three different laminated Chinese menus and one paper takeout menu. It also included a large, colorful gift certificate, which acts as the prediction. One double-sided page of instructions is provided.
The method is pretty clever, but this effect will require some strong audience management to make things go smoothly. There's no memorization involved. I really like this plot.
Now the claws come out. There are two things that bother me greatly. Firstly, there's no crediting as far as I can tell. The trick is advertised as Fred Rosenbaum's SZECHUAN SAMPLER, but there's absolutely no information about Mr. Rosenbaum or where the basic idea came from. After all, one can't ignore the fact that this bears a remarkably strong resemblance to Max Maven's MENU PAUSE.
The second thing that bothers me is that Larry Becker and Lee Earle have included some offensive gags and lines about Asians. When this was brought up in another review, Becker and Earle posted a video on the internet, proudly boasting the routine contains "very un-PC" humor, and that "comedy always offends someone."
This may be true if you're working your local comedy club for a living, where anything goes. Or, if you're performing for your friends and family. But, since Becker and Earle are both professionals performing for real people in the corporate world, I am astonished that they would recommend some of these lines. Can you imagine a performer in California uttering, "There is a telephone listing for delivery, I tried it and got a Wong number" to an audience? Or how about, "I hope the name of this dish is just a coincidence of language - Sum Yung Cat!"
One could argue that these lines aren't even funny, and there would be yet another reason not to use them.
But it's really an easy fix. The lines aren't important to the routine. Hell, one doesn't even have to use these menus. Skip the Chinese theme altogether and have special menus printed up, using restaurants from your area. You would be adding a touch of authenticity to the routine and burying the Chinese dragons and symbols that I thought were buried in the 1980's with my Square Circle!
Four participants are given Chinese food menus. They each select an item. When the prices of the items are totaled, the amount matches the prediction of the performer.
The packet I received contains three different laminated Chinese menus and one paper takeout menu. It also included a large, colorful gift certificate, which acts as the prediction. One double-sided page of instructions is provided.
The method is pretty clever, but this effect will require some strong audience management to make things go smoothly. There's no memorization involved. I really like this plot.
Now the claws come out. There are two things that bother me greatly. Firstly, there's no crediting as far as I can tell. The trick is advertised as Fred Rosenbaum's SZECHUAN SAMPLER, but there's absolutely no information about Mr. Rosenbaum or where the basic idea came from. After all, one can't ignore the fact that this bears a remarkably strong resemblance to Max Maven's MENU PAUSE.
The second thing that bothers me is that Larry Becker and Lee Earle have included some offensive gags and lines about Asians. When this was brought up in another review, Becker and Earle posted a video on the internet, proudly boasting the routine contains "very un-PC" humor, and that "comedy always offends someone."
This may be true if you're working your local comedy club for a living, where anything goes. Or, if you're performing for your friends and family. But, since Becker and Earle are both professionals performing for real people in the corporate world, I am astonished that they would recommend some of these lines. Can you imagine a performer in California uttering, "There is a telephone listing for delivery, I tried it and got a Wong number" to an audience? Or how about, "I hope the name of this dish is just a coincidence of language - Sum Yung Cat!"
One could argue that these lines aren't even funny, and there would be yet another reason not to use them.
But it's really an easy fix. The lines aren't important to the routine. Hell, one doesn't even have to use these menus. Skip the Chinese theme altogether and have special menus printed up, using restaurants from your area. You would be adding a touch of authenticity to the routine and burying the Chinese dragons and symbols that I thought were buried in the 1980's with my Square Circle!