Description

The cover page for this “magical monologue” promises “a complete act with special effects, tricks, laughs and surprises,” and who better to write and illustrate such a project than Sid Lorraine, the man who invented the Slop Shuffle, wrote a number of excellent magic books and provided illustrations for seminal works of magic literature? A Magician in the House is a single narrative that builds to create a thoroughly entertaining story, interspersed with plenty of laughs and magical moments. The emphasis here is on fun rather than amazement, but a number of effects help the plot along, and all are explained in full — from a vanishing knot to a poker deal and a necklace production. What sets this book apart, though, is the patter provided and the author’s explanations of why he has chosen the gags and structure he uses. A fascinating look at a way of presenting magic that is seldom seen but always proves a winner with audiences.