Price$79.95
Media TypeDVD
CategoryGeneral, Close Up
Date AddedOct 03, 2006
Treasures Set Vol 1-3
Alexander De Cova
Murphy's Magic Supplies, Inc.
(Based on 2 reviews)
Here you will find visual, baffling and commercial magic that will delight you and your audience. Most of the material is relatively easy to learn and perfectly suited for the stand-up performer. You will also find many new tips and insights for enhancing your own present material.
All in all, enjoy the magic of one of Germany's most creative magicians!
DVD 1 FEATURES:
- Chinese Money Mystery
- Super Easy Triumph
- Purse Swindle
- Premonition Box
- Stand-Up Deck Switch
- Ring-O-Matic
- Gumball Machine
- Boxed Transposition
- 9-Card Monte
- Flash Restoration
- Cups & Balls Moves
- Blank Cheque Transpo
- Pro Card To Wallet
- Ball To Silk
- A New Rope Move
- Chopstick Vanish
- Master Silks Routine
- Vanishing Cane
- Stand-Up Flurry
- Seven Card Monte
- McDonalds Aces
- Hangman Plus
- Ordered Surprise
- Spring Gag
- Slot Machine
- Ultimate Coin Penetration
- Lethal Weapon
Disc 2 Running Time Approximately 1hr 10min
Disc 3 Running Time Approximately 1hr 32min
Reviews
(Top ▲)
A lot of the material on here is minor modifications or ideas to classics, however, there are also quite a number of original moves and presentations by Alexander as well.
One of the best parts of the series is the fact that it really sparked my creativity and gave me several more ideas and even inspired a few new tricks and handlings of my own.
Here's a sample of some of the stuff you will find. Let's start with two classic plots: Card to Wallet and Torn and Restored Card. How's this for a twist on Signed Card to Wallet: The wallet is removed and placed on the table before the card is selected. Once the card is selected, signed and replaced in the deck, the deck is tabled no where near the wallet. The wallet which has been sitting on the table the whole time is then immediately picked up and opened. The signed card is inside the wallet inside of an envelope. This is a killer effect and method.
Next, Torn and Restored Card... tear a card into four pieces. Place three of the four pieces on top of the deck. Slap your hand on the deck and the 3 pieces instantly are restored. Again beautiful magic and super visual. I will say, on this one however, that you couldn't do this in a strolling set. It's more for a set show environment.
DeCova has some incredible cups and ball moves that are quite freaky and deceptive. He has some beautiful methods of handling a thumb tip that are amazing.
There are a couple of coin routines that didn't really strike my fancy such as "Chinese Money Mystery" and "Stand-Up Flurry" and I don't know that I would call every effect a Gem, however, over 80 % of the material is Gem quality. It will either inspire you to improve your own effects, or it will add a new effect, method or move to your tool belt.
You'll see his work on the Vanishing Cane, Ball to Silk, Rope Magic, Sympathetic Silks (brilliant... a lot of work, but B.R.I.L.L.I.A.N.T.). He teaches you how to make a clever, albeit not entirely practical, deck switch utility device which is very cool and with the right "justification" would be an excellent utility item to have.
I could go on and on, but I think you've got the idea by now. These DVDs are loaded with great ideas, tips, tricks, methods, etc, etc, etc... Definite GEM!
(Top ▲)
I wish there had been an audience for the taping. The magic was quite good and I think an audience would have spiced up the performance segments.
DeCova presents solid, standard magic, usually with some small, but important improvements. He's very good about providing the history for those of us who like to do the research.
Here's a quick run-down of my favorite parts:
Vol 1
Triumph is amazing and very easy to do. It's basically Grant’s "Cheek-to-Cheek" with a few nice touches.
DeCova's work with the thumb tip is worth the price of this DVD. Purse swindle is an excellent example for learning to use his alternate handling.
It's sad that the Premonition Box was ripped off. It's sad that we sometimes support knockoffs without knowing it.
Vol 2.
Flash Restoration – a very visual restoration.
Cups & Balls – I think DeCova is the only person besides Vernon that makes the Vernon wand spin look like it’s supposed to. His choice to use no-bounce balls is brilliant!
Blank Cheque Transpo – A real fooler! Practical. He's even included David Coste's work on the thumb tip vanish in a silk.
Card in Wallet – You'll find some great touches on the standard routine! The handling is very clean and there's a logical reason for letter/wallet. His work on shim card makes the handling much easier.
Ball to Silk – An excellent move for manipulators! And if you're doing silk productions and aren't already familiar with the Figure-8 silk roll, it's worth the price of the DVD.
New Rope Move – I'm adding this one to my rope routine. Enough said.
Chopstick Vanish – If you're doing sponge balls, you'll want to add this move.
Master Silks – The Sympathetic Silks with nice gimmicks to make it very clean and easy.
Vol 3.
Vanishing Cane – I wish I’d had this in my competition days. Includes another nice silk roll.
Ordered Surprise – If you're looking to add a gambling theme to your act, check this out. It'll require some chops with cards, but is well worth the effort.
Slot Machine – A nice variation of Dr. Sawa’s original routine.
DeCova presents solid, standard magic, usually with some small, but important improvements. He's very good about providing the history for those of us who like to do the research.
Here's a quick run-down of my favorite parts:
Vol 1
Triumph is amazing and very easy to do. It's basically Grant’s "Cheek-to-Cheek" with a few nice touches.
DeCova's work with the thumb tip is worth the price of this DVD. Purse swindle is an excellent example for learning to use his alternate handling.
It's sad that the Premonition Box was ripped off. It's sad that we sometimes support knockoffs without knowing it.
Vol 2.
Flash Restoration – a very visual restoration.
Cups & Balls – I think DeCova is the only person besides Vernon that makes the Vernon wand spin look like it’s supposed to. His choice to use no-bounce balls is brilliant!
Blank Cheque Transpo – A real fooler! Practical. He's even included David Coste's work on the thumb tip vanish in a silk.
Card in Wallet – You'll find some great touches on the standard routine! The handling is very clean and there's a logical reason for letter/wallet. His work on shim card makes the handling much easier.
Ball to Silk – An excellent move for manipulators! And if you're doing silk productions and aren't already familiar with the Figure-8 silk roll, it's worth the price of the DVD.
New Rope Move – I'm adding this one to my rope routine. Enough said.
Chopstick Vanish – If you're doing sponge balls, you'll want to add this move.
Master Silks – The Sympathetic Silks with nice gimmicks to make it very clean and easy.
Vol 3.
Vanishing Cane – I wish I’d had this in my competition days. Includes another nice silk roll.
Ordered Surprise – If you're looking to add a gambling theme to your act, check this out. It'll require some chops with cards, but is well worth the effort.
Slot Machine – A nice variation of Dr. Sawa’s original routine.