DVD Review: Enigmatic Volume 2-Alexander de Cova

Bring Out the Plastic

In “Porous Plastic,” three silver dollars penetrate a clear plastic ziplock baggie three times. This visual piece is based on basic sleight-of-hand and a clever, visual ambiguity. I like this one because it resets automatically and can reside in your case and be brought out and immediately performed. de Cova originally performed this one with cookies, which brings up some definite possibilities for themes.

Based on the movie that inspired it, “Groundhog Day” offers a routine where things appear to change but don’t-spectators are taken back in time. In the routine, two silks are tied together and a series of cards with frowning and smiling faces are mixed. In the end, the silks are found to be separate and untied, and the cards are correctly sorted in groups of happy and frowning faces, just as they were in the beginning. This is an offbeat effect.

Accounting for Everything

In “Bean Counter,” the magician presents a jar that’s filled with beans and also holds some money and a folded piece of paper. The jar is sealed with a removable cap. Spectators are told that they will have to guess the number of beans in the jar. When the audience agrees on a number, the jar is opened, the spectator reaches into the jar and pulls out the note, and the number that’s written on the note matches the audience’s estimate.

This is another offbeat routine that has a brilliant and diabolical method that isn’t difficult to perform. I found the method to be as stunning as the effect. I laughed out loud when de Cova explained this one.

In “Tea Time,” the magician displays a prediction, a folded playing card that’s sitting in a tea strainer. Interestingly, on my DVD player, the presentation segment consistently seized-up. As a result, I can’t comment on the effect because I couldn’t watch it. But this one has a killer method with lots of possibilities. If you can work the tea strainer into your predication effect, this is a great idea.

On his DVDs, Alexander de Cova proves that he is an innovative thinker. His secrets are clean and direct and rely on clever methods. This DVD is worth watching just for the methods-I was entertained by the amazing approaches. And there’s also some great effects that you can add to your repertoire.

-Wayne N. Kawamoto

MSRP: (US) $35

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