Magic Tricks

Draper’s act was tightly scripted, charming mentalism based on classic methods. He had a through-line weaving the effects together thematically; he also had a thread connecting the technical aspects of the performance, which he leaves to the viewer, to figure out (revealed during the explanation). By the end of the 25 minute performance, we know his political leanings, religious background, interests and that he has a good sense of humor. It’s not every performance of mentalism that reveals so much in terms of character and personality, and I hope other performers will take note. As for the mentalism, I would characterize it as simple and strong. Not overly procedural for the most part (a few transfers of critical bits of paper from hand to hand are the only exceptions that come to mind). As is not uncommon in this branch of magic, most of the show can be purchased in WalMart, CVS or even a well-stocked petrol station, save a few small magic-specific items. While the majority of mental acts I’ve seen on Penguin leave me cold, this is one of a few that I found engaging and entertaining.