"Jim Bergstrom's Hat Trick" by Ron Bauer
Suggested Retail USD$10.00
Available direct from E-Gads
In a Blink: 10 Out of 10

"Jim Bergstrom's Hat Trick", the latest entry in Ron Bauer's "Private Studies Series", is a great routine that breathes a bit of new life into the old classic.

I'll say it up front to save everyone time: if you're looking for some multi-phased, many-sleighted, brand-spanking-new effect, this ain't it. You can move along; there's nothing to see here.

If you're looking for something different, something not seen much anymore, and something that is strikingly entertaining, then "Jim Bergstrom's Hat Trick" is worth a look and, probably, more than that.

For those not familiar with the effect, it goes like this: a stack of tissue paper is taken, torn into pieces in as haphazard a manner as can be, and then the pieces are restored in the form of a hat, complete with band and flower decorations. That, in a nutshell, is Cecil Lyle's "Hat Trick", something performed by him back in the early 1900s.

Yes, the trick is that old. It was also, if you believe what we know about Cecil Lyle's act, one of his pet pieces that got the biggest response during his act.

There's a reason for that: it's a magical restoration that, ultimately, made sense within Lyle's act. He was known as the "Magical Milliner" so it only goes to figure magically producing a ladies hat from torn paper was as logical as it was magical. Throw in the fact that it's a wonderful, "magic-made" giveaway, and you've got the ingredients for a hit on your hands.

Now we fast-forward to Jim Bergstrom.

Bergstrom, under Bauer's tutelage, learned the Lyle trick and then upped the amperage. First, he made it a comedy piece that stands alone -- no specialized theme needed here. Second, he made it more than a throwaway piece, the traditional way it's been presented since Lyle made it public. In Bergstrom's version, the presentation makes this almost a theatrical piece. Third, Bergstrom added some pleasant touches to the final product that make the restoration even more magical (if that were possible). Lastly, it remains a fantastic, personalized giveaway that spectators will appreciate -- and that's an understatement.

Now, I have to be honest here and say there's no way I would even think about performing this. I don't mind it's age -- I do Cups and Balls, after all -- but I do mind it's child-like appearance. In fact, if you had asked me, I'd have classified this as a children's trick and not given it a second thought. Mea culpa. But I've got a good excuse: the only times I've ever seen this performed was for kids. Ever. That's a long time.

Bergstrom's version is anything but for kids. In fact, it's solidly for adults. That's not to say it's "adult themed", but that it's mature, more grown-up. Bergstrom specifically made this for ladies, not little girls, and with them it plays huge.

So what do you get here? Well, in typical "Private Studies" style, you get the detailed handling of the effect along with the exquisitely thorough presentation. You also get all the instructions you'll need for making your own "hat trick package" (you'll need to supply the makings: tissue paper, glue, scissors, tape measure, and the like) plus details for making extra pieces of the final restoration that Bergstrom added for a little more impact. Nothing required here is necessarily hard to come across so, with instructions in hand and a bit of time, you'll be ready to go with this quickly and easily.

Okay, so at the end of the day it all breaks down to this: if you're looking for a great piece of fun, comedic, entertaining magic, something so old it's new again, and an act unto itself aimed at the often overlooked women in your audience, "Jim Bergstrom's Hat Trick" is worth a look. Chances are it will fit the bill perfectly for you.

"Jim Bergstrom's Hat Trick" by Ron Bauer
In a Blink: 10 Out of 10

Material: 10
This is Bergstrom's take on Cecil Lyle's "Hat Trick" and it's a great one. Bergstrom goes for laughs and gets them here, but also included is how to make your own gaffs quickly and easily. Talk about getting everything you need in one shot... it's all here.

Quality: 10
Bauer is still up to his usual par which is far beyond what most turn out when it comes to writing about magic. This is another excellent job by Bauer.

Illustrations: 10
Sandra Kort does the many, many illustrations here and they are wonderfully done as always.

Presentation: 10
It's all about the comedy and the spectator and the comedy not done at the spectator's expense. Bergstrom's routine is dead-on and really makes ye olde "Hat Trick" worth another look.


Shane