David Berglas & Banachek - Escape from Asylum VOL2

David and Banachek Bagh Las lecture , Close taught magic !

Escape from the Asylum
Waterfall Studios, London
November 17th 2002

David performed what can best be described as a 'Multiple invisible tossed out deck' where a single card was selected from a 'visible' deck which became the only card remaining when all other cards had been called. One of the two people left standing was non other than Banachek which seemed to be yet another of the infuriating coincidences that David seems to attract which he goes on to take full advantage of, which is essentially his trade mark.

He showed his book which is finally with us, if somewhat bewildered that some dealers in the UK were already selling before he had seen one. Someone was handed a copy which was opened randomly and David elaborated on the items selected to give a flavour of the contents. These included the 'Mini Metro launch' where unsuspecting VIPs were shepherded unknowingly onto a vessel which then set sail from Liverpool to the Isle of Mann during which 20 previously disguised cars appeared from nowhere after the decks had been searched. The transportation of a banknote from Manchester to London on live television, the feature being the first ever to wow audiences with a split screen showing each location in half of the screen!

After answering a number of questions, David was finally rescued as his time came to an end all too quickly.Steve, pleasingly, gave a straight through performance without stopping to explain anything. The act consisted of a two card divination that, for me, smacked too much of pre-show though this later turned out to be his reason for including it, a double book test, an excellent 'blind vision' presentation, a telephone book prediction, a Question and Answer routine using his own portfolio, an ' image appearing on his arm 'card revelation and finishing, as might be expected, with his bending silverware.

As with Ian earlier, whilst from a technical point of view, all relatively simple this was elevated well out of most of our reaches by sheer presentation skill and I have no doubt why he enjoys such excellent success.