"37" by Marc Oberon
Suggested Retail USD$25.00
Available from your favorite dealer
In a Blink: 3 Out of 10

"37", an effect by Marc Oberon, is slightly interesting but, in the end, doesn't hold up well compared to other things that could be done with the ancient idea.

The effect is simple enough. A slip of paper, said to hold a prediction, is placed in an envelope which has been shown empty. A spectator names a two-digit number. The performer removes the slip of paper and shows that the prediction matched the two-digit number.

The workings are equally as simple, and equally as ancient. We can describe them and still be necessarily cryptic: Piatt for one part of this, Anneman for one part, and the old verbal "37" thing from time immemorial (which is my way of admitting I don't know who came up with it).

I'll cut right to the chase: I don't care for "37". I don't hate it, but I sure wouldn't waste my time and money on it.

Here's the thing: the "37" bit just doesn't play as a "freely selected number". Sorry, but as soon as you start saying things like, "less than fifty, two digits, both different, both..." it absolutely smacks of narrowing the choices way too much. Oh, sure, you can do this as a force of some sort, psychological influence or what have you and it may play a little better, but as a flat-out prediction? Weak.

And why would you settle for "weak" when the Piatt gimmick and the Anneman idea can do so much more? If you can't think of anything better, then take the money you would have spent for this and go buy a book or two. If you're after a trick and not research material, then go look up "Pentacles of Solomon" by Sam Dalal. It's much niftier, the envelopes are better (and they come in different sizes), and you get a lot of ideas for less than half of what "37" will set you back.

Really, this is all about an idea just not being up to snuff. The props are okay, the instructions lacking but passable, everything else is alright except the core idea itself. With such a slough of themes and ideas and thoughts to play with, there's no excuse for using one that doesn't live up to the potential.

Keep walking by "37"; it's just not worth it.

"37" by Marc Oberon
In a Blink: 3 Out of 10

Practicality: 5
It packs small and resets fairly quickly (with practice; until then you'll need to head to the bathroom to get it done). Repeating it can be troublesome without a little thought prior to things. Overall, it's fairly practical.

Workmanship: 5
It's what you would expect and made well enough to get the job done. You'll need to replace the envelope eventually and that will mean using the supplied one as a template or buy this all over again.

Documentation: 3
Thorough and detailed this ain't. It's enough to get the job done, at least mechanically, but lacking on any ideas on presentations (or just ideas, period).

Effect: 3
The "37" ploy as a jaw-dropper? Yeah, it could happen. Not here, though. It comes across as cute, but even that feels like an audience's generousity than anything else.

Presentation: 1
The force is the presentation or, in other words, there isn't one or even a hint of one.

Shane

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