Working my way through Mike Powers' new book (Power Plays) and I am simply knocking people out with "Sawing a Lady." If you have the book and overlooked this effect I urge you to stop, back up, and take the time to work your way through this one. If you do not have the book, here's a reason to strongly consider the purchase.

Thanks Mike!

Tell us more!

What is the effect?

Okay... I hope I do it justice:
Spectator freely selects a card which will be used to represent "a magician" (Houdini, in the book), and then selects any one of the four queens to represent "the lady." Spectator writes "Houdini" (or, as I do it, simply signs their name) across the face of the "magician" card. The lady is placed inside of an ordinary card box that has thin slits cut from side to side, on both sides. The magician card is then slid through the slit in one side and out the other, cutting the lady in half. You can show both sides of the box and even move the magician card back and forth. Their signature (or "Houdini") can be clearly seen throughout. The magician card is then removed, and the lady emerges from the box unharmed. The effect is then repeated but this time it is the lady's turn for revenge. The magician is sealed in the box and the lady cuts through from one side and out the other (same conditions as before). The lady is then removed and when the box is opened to show the magician card it has disappeared.

I'm having a lot of fun with this one. So simple, but quite a fooler.

Sounds fun. I like the idea of taking the big stage illusion and making it close-up. Lots of room for ideas.

Sounds like an awesome effect! Thanks for the heads up magiguy!!

What a terrific concept. Are angles an issue?

Not really. There are two very short spots in the effect where it would be tough to be surrounded, but you could likely work your way around them. The beauty of it is that you can show all sides of the card box while the one card is in the act of cutting through the other, and you can even move the signed card up and down, showing the signed face moving up and down through the box. I've found it to be a real convincer. Incidentally, the box is examineable at the beginning and at the end. I'm much farther along in the book than I was when I first started this thread and I've found many more clever ideas which, alone, are worth the price of the book (at least, they are to me). I've already hunted down Mike's other two books to tide me over once I get to the end of this one.

I still have to build the box but from what I've read, it is a very clever method. I'll have to try this one when I have the chance.

Can't wait to pick it up. Sounds great.

Sounds like something worth picking up, thanks.

Please DO get this book! It is simply fantastic and a TON of useable material. It seems that Mike never disappoints when releasing material and Power Plays is his best yet.

Vlad