"The Magic of Nefesch Volumes 1 through 3" DVDs by Nefesch and Titanas
Suggested Retail USD$50.00 each
Available from your favorite dealer
In a Blink: 5 Out of 10

"The Magic of Nefesch", three volumes of the magical creations of Nefesch and Titanas, is an impressive set of unique effects that may be the best you never do and are seriously hampered by an amateur production and poor instruction.

I won't go through all the effects; with three volumes, each with two discs, this would come close to being a magical "War and Peace" than a review. Besides, for the most part, the ad copy lets you know pretty much what you're getting into.

Instead, let's just look at this from a bird's-eye view.

This is some truly unique magic. The plots are refreshing in more ways that one and sometimes just startling. I mean, come on, crying blood as part of a revelation? Finding a signed, vanished coin inside an ice cube or a bar of soap or an egg, opening a soda can or inflating a balloon or moving a card with the power of your mind? This is neat, new stuff that can get the adrenalin pumping and at times is completely mind-blowing in its originality and its methodology.

What about those other times? Ah, there's the first of many problems with "The Magic of Nefesch".

For all the creative thinking, there are times when the method just doesn't cut it. All too often the handlings are awkward, with what looks like too much finagling to put the work in place during the course of the effect. Case in point: "S.O.S." In this one, the performer pops open a soda can magically, without touching it apparently. Except that it is touched and, in the performance piece of this, touched a few times. It looks all the world like something is being done, even though a spectator may never figure out what. It's far from clean, it's awkward, and it just doesn't play as it should because of it. Other routines suffer the same fate, some with the work being done while the spectators would obviously be burning holes through your fingers. Can you work it out, make it smoother? In most cases, yes. But it's not unreasonable to expect that work to be done for you, or at least hinted about during the explanations. Unfortunately, you're on your own here.

While we're still on the methods of things, it has to be mentioned that the set-ups here are monstrous at times. This is not an exaggeration; when Nefesch works one of his creations, time and labor are not his considerations. And good for him. If you're working TV shows (as Nefesch does) or formal shows, then the last thing you really care about is what it takes to get the job done. But relatively few work formal shows, and way fewer still have their own TV appearances to work with; most workers face the strolling/hopping venues and set-ups that take an hour or more of meticulous work for a single practice (let alone performance) or effects that have very specific performance requirements just aren't worth the trouble.

Having said that, here I come to the defense of the material because I do like it and I like it alot. If I want a one-of-a-kind piece of magic, something special for a special occasion, I'll find myself thinking of Nefesch's work. Some of it is so powerful, so different, it becomes reputation-making stuff and, at least for that one time, worth the price in dollars, time, labor, sweat and tears many times over. So for (what we'll call somewhat sarcastically) everyday work, the material will struggle to makes it way into many acts, but for those one-shots that leave a mark, this material can carry its own weight.

But then the other two problems rear their heads: production and instruction.

First thing's first, the production value of the discs. Simply put, they are poor. This was shot with a single camera, at a single angle, and using nothing more than an undirected remote zoom (usually used by Titanas who is in the shot as he's working the camera). The result? Clumsy, awkward filming that too often completely misses the action. During one shot, I was left wondering what in the world Titanas was doing -- it looked all the world as a perfect mime of holding something between his fingers -- before I finally figured out he actually was holding... something (it took a bit longer to figure out what). This kind of thing was way too common here. Now, throw in some sound issues and what is probably one of the worse organization schemes for any disc set (with performances on the first disc, then some of the explanations, then other explanations on the other disc, with whatever extras are thrown in) and you're looking at some serious issues. For the high price tag, I expect a bit more work, especially when it impacts learning the material.

Good instruction can overcome that to a certain extent, but that's the second problem here: the instruction is painful. Nefesch and Titanas try. They really do. And they do their best to drive home the hows of the methods. But it seems to never end. Again and again, we're told to perform a certain action and we're told it over and over and over. And over. Then it's restated again, just for good measure, and then once more just in case we missed it the other dozen times. This constant, repetitive teaching becomes so boring, so excruciating, that any differences in the teaching, maybe a subtlety pointed out during one of those repetitions, can and probably will be missed. To their credit, they are thorough, but with a script and some rehearsal they could have done so much better than they did. As a result, you're in for a painful time learning some of this.

But, again, if you're really looking for something different for special occasions, you can wade through the production problems and the instructional issues as easily as you do the obstacles presented by the set-ups and the handlings.

And really, that's what purchasing this set really boils down to. If that previous paragraph describes you, then this is one set you will want to have. If you're looking for something to slap into your act whole-cloth and go strolling with, this is one you can pass by and not feel all that bad about missing.

"The Magic of Nefesch Volumes 1 through 3" DVDs by Nefesch and Titanas
In a Blink: 5 Out of 10

Material: 7
The material runs the gamut here and when it's good, it's great. Some effects, though, suffer from awkward handlings (which will have to be worked through) or huge set-ups (something that'll affect when and where you can pull these off). Overall, it's a collection of some great thinking despite issues that may arise.

Practicality: 5
For workers looking for easy repeatability, this ain't the collection for you. Set-ups are sometimes monstrous, lots of props and gimmicks and gaffs are in play, resets are usually not an option... you get the idea. For those looking for formal pieces or maybe that one-of-a-kind special effect, this is fairly practical stuff.

Quality of Production: 3
A single-camera shoot from a single angle, with a remote zoom (used most often by Titanas who is in the shot) that, too often, misses the action entirely. Throw poor sound into the mix and an ugly categorization of the discs and you've got a very amateurish production here that will impact your learning.

Quality of Instruction: 3
Nefesch and Titanas give it their best, but without a script the instruction rambles on and on and on, with points repeated over and over, leading to boredom and the very high risk of missing something important. Concise explanations, especially in light of the production work, is really required here.

Presentation: 7
Nefesch has created some of the best visuals and startling unique magic in the business; this collection showcases that. Sometimes that's more than enough to carry an effect, sometimes the effect needs a bit more. When it works, though, it's brilliant.

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.