"Inner Change" by Steve Shufton
Suggested Retail USD$25.00
Available from your favorite dealer
In a Blink: 10 Out of 10

"Inner Change", the latest effect by Steve Shufton, revisits his earlier release, "Emergency Cash", changing the object involved, but keeping the easy-to-do, impossible-to-ignore impact, making "Inner Change" a solid winner.

"Inner Change", like "Emergency Cash", is an "impossible location" plot, this time using a coin instead of a bill. Now, normally something as, well, standard as the "impossible location" plot really bears no need for an effect description. "Inner Change", though, holds all the juicy bits in the details.

Here's the way it goes:

A small envelope is given to a spectator to hold. A coin is borrowed from a spectator and marked in any manner they want (no stickers or the like -- the coin is truly marked). The coin is held in the performer's hand and the envelope waved over it. The hand is opened and the coin is gone. The performer shows the hands to be as empty as a politician's promises. The envelope is shown to be freely to be just another envelope. When it is opened, inside is another envelope. Inside that one? Another one. In all, there are five envelopes opened. Finally, a tiny envelope is found inside and handed to the spectator, who opens it to reveal their marked coin inside.

As far as the plot goes, that's a fine version with some great structure to it. And as to the method, well, that's as slick as you could want. As is typical with Shufton's creations, everything is self-contained here: you throw this one into your pocket and you're always ready to go with it. You'll need to practice a few things to get the "feel" of this down, but there are no difficult sleights involved at all, not even the almost-obligatory palming. Reseting it is as simple as putting the envelopes back inside each other, making this a stroller's dream. The handling is so fair, so clean, that "Inner Change" plays huge. And it will work with any small coin (up to the size of a U.S. quarter) to boot.

In many ways, "Inner Change" is a perfect, commercial version of the classic plot. With so many pluses, it's almost a must-have for anyone wanting to add a quick, powerful "impossible location" effect to their act.

What about the negatives? I'm sorry to disappoint you but, after doing this one for a while, I simply cannot find any. And I've tried. I guess I could fuss about the color of the envelopes or something equally ludicrous, but even that would be a stretch. This one works and works well, in huge capital letters and, like "Emergency Cash" before it, "Inner Change" is destined to be in many a working repertoire.

It's good, clean, powerful stuff that's just too good not to perform.

"Inner Change" by Steve Shufton
In a Blink: 10 Out of 10

Practicality: 10
"Inner Change" is about as practical a piece of magic as you can get. It packs very small (throw it in your pocket or wallet and forget about it if you want), reset is a breeze (put the envelopes back inside each other and you're good to go) which makes repeating it a non-issue, angles are great, it will work with a variety of coins... this is pretty much anything you could want in a workable "impossible location" plot.

Workmanship: 10
Shufton has always won me over with his excellent craftsmanship -- "Inner Change" is no different. It's extremely well-made and, with care, will last a lifetime.

Documentation: 10
Shufton's documentation is extremely thorough and very well-written. Accompanying illustrations make learning this one a breeze.

Effect: 10
The "impossible location" plot is a sure-fire crowd-pleaser when done well, and "Inner Change" is done very, very well. Expect great reactions from this one.

Presentation: 10
Shufton supplies a slightly comedic presentation here that plays up the impossibility of things but it's the cleanliness here that packs the punch. This is as clean as you can get and still be doing dirty work.

Shane

Available direct from your favorite dealer. Dealers, please contact Murphy's Magic Supplies, Inc. toll-free at 1-800-853-7403 or visit Murphy's Magic Supplies website.