The Magic of Suzanne is a two DVD set starring Suzanne, the 2010 Academy of Magical Arts Close-Up Magician of the Year. The DVD starts with a performance of her 24 minute Magic Castle act, in the Magic Castle. It is phenomenal. This DVD is well worth the purchase to watch an award winning magician do her thing, discuss it, and even teach some (but not all) of it.
Suzanne’s Magic Castle show consists of three basic segments. First a very strong and well-thought out multiple card routine (which is fully taught on the second DVD), followed by a Sharpie marked band-aid transposition trick (recently performed on Fool Us in which she fooled Penn and Teller) and finishes with a really fantastic Cups and Balls routine. The two latter tricks are not explained.
First off, let me say that Suzanne’s card routine is several routines built into one. In the card routine she has a marked card disappear and reappear in her pocket several times. She has a completely double-sided blank deck apparently instantly turn into a regular deck of cards. It has aspects of an ambitious card routine and she makes permanent ink apparently jump from one card to another. It is a great routine packed with numerous magical moments, comedy and emotion. It is taught excellently with step by step instruction.
Although this DVD would be worth the price just for the explanation of the card routines, it teaches so much more about the art of performance and interaction with an audience and spectators. Suzanne’s misdirection is honed to perfection and it is wonderful to watch her perform. She also shows a prototype of her deck switcher gimmick. I wish that she taught her Cups and Balls routine in the same step-by-step way that she taught her card routines. Trust me when I tell you that her routine is excellent and it has an unusual storyline to it and an awesome finale kicker.
One of my favorite features of the DVD is the fact that the viewer can choose to watch the performances with Suzanne’s audio commentary on the performance dubbed into the track. You can also see performances of the same tricks in front of a different audience. This is very interesting since you see how Suzanne deals with a boisterous audience and an intoxicated volunteer as opposed to an almost silent audience and a more cerebral spectator. The audio commentary gives great insight into her performance and what she is thinking when she is working her act.
There is also an interview with Suzanne that is very interesting and she discusses her career path and Dai Vernon’s front row appearance at her show, many years ago. Needless to say, the Professor approved of her act and when she asked for some suggestions, he told her to wear a dress.
The production quality is excellent and the ad copy is accurate. In the promotional video Suzanne says that she “goes through” her Magic Castle action “from beginning to end” which is true, but beware that the secrets are not taught for every trick.
This is a wonderful production and I highly recommend it.