Trick Review: Chinese Choice by John Archer

The second mentalism effect that involves Chinese food to cross my desk in less than a month, John Archer's "Chinese Choice" offers another take (take-out?) on restaurant menus and math The other recent effect was Szechuan Sampler 2.0 that was offered by Larry Becker and Lee Earle (please click here to read our review.

I like Chinese food and "Chinese Choice" offers a fun routine for stand-up or close-up. I agree with Archer that it's not opening or closing material, but a good mid-act routine that offers lots of audience interaction.

Going Out to Dinner

You select three spectators and explain that the ancient Chinese were great mathematicians and believers in numerology, which is why the items on a Chinese menu are numbered. With this in mind, you will demonstrate a Chinese, number-based approach to deciding what to eat at a restaurant.

You bring out a small packet of plastic number cards and allow a spectator to shuffle them. One person is designated as the holder of the menu, while the other two will determine, in a random fashion and using the number cards, the amount of money that they can spend on the meal. You bring out a menu that represents the restaurant that they will visit.

With Three You Get Eggrolls

The spectators generate numbers and arrive at a total of $1.65, which won't buy much to eat. The third spectator generates an additional number that represents a numbered dish on the menu. When the spectators check this numbered item on the menu, they find that it's the buffet option that says an "Eat as much as you like buffet for three people, cost - $1.65."

The trick comes with two custom printed menus (a large one for stage and a pocket sized version for close up) and a set of plastic number cards. The props are quality ones that will last a long time under working conditions. The menus also look like real ones from a classy restaurant.

A nice addition to the menus would have been a code to help magicians recall a certain order that is required for the trick. The prop becomes a crib sheet. This is something that Becker and Earle often do with their effects and is incorporated in "Szechuan Sampler."

Comparing Chinese Restaurants

So how does Archer's "Chinese Choice" compare with Becker and Earle's "Szechuan Sampler"? This is like asking me whether I prefer kung pao chicken or orange chicken. However, the choice between these two effects is easier.

Overall, I prefer "Szechuan Sampler" for the following reasons: 1) there's a large gift card with the predicted amount that is brought out early and revealed at the end and allows a number of people to view the conclusion and 2) I find that the selection of the numbers is less convoluted and more straight-forward.

While I was critical of Becker and Earle's lame attempts at humor, which was unfortunately printed on the prop menus, I feel that their "Szechuan Sampler" offers the stronger revelation. In any event, either effect won’t leave you feeling hungry an hour later.

-Wayne N. Kawamoto

MSRP: (US) $40

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