DVD Review: Flying Matches by Randi Rain

As the name implies, "Flying Matches" offers a routine with paper matches that employs a PK ring. Matches magically move from place to place and vanish and reappear. Randi Rain teaches the moves. If you'd like a routine that is something of a matrix effect with matches that has a logical start and end, you may favor this one.

Match Matrix

In the routine, Rain rips several matches from a match book and sets the remaining matches in the book on fire. The match book is then closed. The next portion of the routine is basically a "matrix" effect with matches. By simply waving her hands over the matches, single matches join others and move from place to place on the table.

Rain also teaches a well-known match penetration effect -- it's explained in lots of magic books -- and offers suggestions on setting up ideal conditions for it. At the end of the Flying Matches routine, an unlit match is vanished and it reappears, still attached to the other burnt matches in the matchbook.

Clean Handling

Because of the PK ring, the handling is quite clean and there's no discernable movement or apparent palming. As far as I know, I don't think there is a way to perform this trick without the PK ring (unless you use a method similar to that used by David Roth in his "Chinese Coin Assembly.)

Rain teaches how to shim a paper match. I thought that the process took some special materials, but discovered here that it could be done with common household materials.

If you would like to perform a table based routine that deals with matches and can be done at almost any time with an ungimmicked matchbook that you can pull out of a dispenser at a bar, you may find something to like on Flying Matches.

-Wayne N. Kawamoto

MSRP: (US) $15

Dealers can purchase from Murphy's Magic Supplies, Inc.