As a card lover, let’s face it, anything with a ‘rainbow’ deck is going to be cool. And Fortuity involves not just a rainbow deck but a very strong piece of magic too. Let’s get straight down to the review.
The Effect
If you’re familiar with an effect Alakazam put out a long time ago (Duel Match) then you pretty much know the effect. The spectator rolls a pair of ordinary dice, decides whether to count from top or bottom of the deck and the card at that location represents a back design. This process is repeated to choose a face design. Needless to say, when you open a prediction envelope which has been in full view from the start of the effect it contains only one card – which matches the freely chosen elements.
It’s a straightforward and strong effect. And without doubt very fooling.
What do you get?
You’re supplied with a DVD (yes – an actual DVD – not a download link) which runs to about 1 hour long. Also a special deck (which is gaffed to the nines and full of beautiful Bicycle cards!), a prediction envelope and card, and a nice quality pair of dice. The whole thing comes in a neatly printed package.
It comes ‘ready to go’ – there’s nothing to assemble or set up.
The teaching is clear – in fact if anything I feel like David Loosely slightly overblows the explanation. He almost falls into the trap of making something which is quite simple more complicated than it needs to be!
You then get some repetition in the teaching as the second half is footage of the creator (David Jonathan) explaining the history (which is interesting) of the effect followed by its working and further tips. Some of these tips are very handy – and are a sign that he has worked the effect in the real world at some length.
What’s the verdict?
Your attitude to Fortuity will depend a lot on your attitude to gaffed decks. This is so cleverly set up that the mechanics of the trick are very easy allowing you to concentrate on presentation. This is always a good sign in a magic trick. Furthermore reset is more or less instant. On the down side, the deck is a one trick pony – and so if pocket space is limited you will have to weigh up that issue.
I do like the effect, and with a decent presentation I think it would be very entertaining. But I can’t help thinking that there might be more straightforward ways of accomplishing a similar level of impact. I think it’s real strength is the very high degree of freedom which the spectator has which seems to make it extremely fair.
Probably worth a punt.
Fortuity is available from the Merchant of Magic for £36.99 (at the time of writing).
Review copy kindly provided by Murphys Magic to whom dealer enquiries should be directed.
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