Magic eBooks > 23 Enigma

23 Enigma

Inspired by Brian Caswell's "Cataclysm," Paul Sharp's Number TWENTY THREE Enigma is a strong, yet easy-to-perform themed mental card effect. You begin by showing a "signed" photo of Jim Carrey, promoting his recent movie about a man who is obsessed with the number "23." Next, you introduce a deck of cards; which you show to be numbered on the backs at random. Turning the deck face up, three different spectators now each "verbally" choose a card. No sleight of hand or tricky moves. The cards named are placed face up on the table and formed into a triangular pattern. You remove a fourth card and place it in the middle of the triangle.

You talk about the movie and how lately, you too, have experienced a number of odd coincidences involving the number "23." To prove your point, one-by-one, you turn over each of the three selected cards and show a link to the number 23. Next, you show how all three numbers together are also linked to the number "23." "You see, 23 is everywhere. I guess the old saying, 'OBSESSION BECOMES REALITY' is true. Hang on ... OBSESSION has 9 letters, BECOMES has 7 letters, REALITY has 7 letters. 9 + 7 + 7 = 23. Now I can see why Jim Carrey was so obsessed with this number."

You now direct the audience's attention back to the Jim Carrey photo on the table. "You know there is something written on the back of the picture. Let's see." You turn over the photo and there is an image with the same four numbers as the cards on the table! Virtually self-working, you can make up everything you need to perform Number TWENTY THREE Enigma with a regular deck of cards, a permanent marker, the supplied artwork, and a small copy of Jim Carrey's "23" movie poster; which you can download from the Internet.

Photo and poster links for "23":

http://movies.about.com/od/thenumber23/ig/Number-23-Photos/

http://movies.about.com/library/weekly/blthenumber23poster.htm

Category: Mental Card Magic

GENERAL FILE SPECIFICATIONS
PC/Mac Compatible
Requires: Free Acrobat Reader (5.x or later)
File size: 4.32 MB
Pages to print: 13
Format: Outputs to both US 8.5 x 11
and European A4 desktop printers