Til Death Do Us Part by Jim Critchlow - my review

Sep 1, 2007
36
2
Til Death Do Us Part by Jim Critchlow - my review

Owners of Whitestar will know Jim Critchlow quite well. It's a great Out of This World variant where you sort survivors of The Titanic, effectively creeping out your audience. Perfect for Halloween! Even the demo shows this girl's shocked reaction as her predictions were 100%. Could she be psychic?! Maybe not… A lot of people have jumped on the OOTW creepy train, including From edited by Lebanon Circle who even includes a blood stained cloth to wrap your cards in.

So taking a prompt from the amazing success of real crime stories on TV, Jim's released another winner where couples murder each other after their wedding day. Throw knives, not rice?

Enter Til Death Do Us Part …

After watching the "demo", you've undoubtedly wondered "Huh? That doesn't show anything", which is perfect since if you actually saw a performance of this effect, you'd instantly know how it's done.


Demo: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bCRM-tin-g

Price: $23 after discount

Buy it: http://www.penguinmagic.com/specialorde ... p?ID=11789


What you get:

- DVD lasting 1 hour 17 mins
- Black envelope for your prediction
- 5 4x6 photographs + extras


The DVD

Titles (1 min) - The demo you see on Youtube

Introduction (1 min)

Performance (4 mins)

Mark Eldson performs for two girls who are under the "recommended spectator age".

What you get (6 mins)

As stated above, you get 10 4x6 photographs + extras. You'll need to do two things if you're seriously planning to perform this regularly:

1) Create a copy of the original photographs, since they aren't on the DVD in JPG format
2) Go online and print extras of the other photograph, which you'll need 1 per performance RitzCamera's site is 9 cents per print + $3 to mail it, however it errored out saying the included JPG was too low resolution.

The set-up (6 mins)

Basically how to perform the effect.

Handling the gimmick (10 mins) (renamed to protect the secret)

This is PHASE 1 of our multi phase effect. Jim reviews everything in detail, including all types of subtleties he uses, and also some issues he encountered over the 3 years he's been performing this.

Second stage handling (10 mins) (renamed)
The last two (4 mins)
Additional thoughts (3 mins)
Goodbye (1 min)
Additional performances (14 mins)

Both Jim and Mark perform for more people outside the target audience in a restaurant or bar.

Photograph folder (one image in JPG format)

The props:

The advertisement claims you get a PDF file, which you don't - it's a JPG. What would have been nice would be JPG of not only the main pic, but the others as well. Right now, any damage to the other 9 photographs is a permanent stop to the effect. If you lose one, drop it in water, spill something on it, dog eats it, whatever - no more Til Death Do Us Part.

Therefore I HIGHLY recommend that you go to your local photo print shop and get duplicates of these things. At least 1 other set, more likely 3 or more if you're serious about it. Alternatively, you can also just scan them in, create JPG's of your own then print online if something happens.

Angles:

Can be done surrounded, naked.

Difficulty:

3/10 - Not really difficult, just requires a few practice sessions with real people to get the script, gimmick and other nuances down. Obviously the more you go out and do it, the better you'll become. One of the main components of Til Death Do Us Part is the ability for you to creep out the spectators, and you won't be able to adequately do this trying to remember the script, or what to say in which phase.

Reset:

Requires a one second reset, but easily done in front of other people while you're walking around to the next set of spectators.

Venues:

This requires a table or surface to lay out the photographs, and a moderately quiet environment. Windy or rainy is bad, the steel tables outside Starbucks that get wet with like any moisture whatsoever is bad, loud environments where you can barely hear yourself talk are bad.

Conclusion:

Pros:

- Strong effect, plays well with a believable plot
- Rides on the popularity of true crime dramas
- Super easy to do. If you have the photos on you, then you're ready to go
- 99% performance based - you can concentrate on what's really important, rather than fumbling with multiple gimmicks

Cons:

- It's targeted towards an older audience (30+)
- Murder based plot, that you have to SELL. Some comedic guys may have issues pulling it off, or be taken seriously
- Requires table space to lay out the photos
- A small cost per performance (6 to 9 cents)

Overall I really liked this, and will be performing it regularly.


The official spam:

Jim Critchlow has seamlessly blended magic, mentalism and storytelling to create a unique moment of astonishment that leaves spectators truly stunned. When performed at the right time, there is absolutely nothing that can follow this effect.

Using some old wedding photographs of married couples from the last 80 years and a presentation that simply has to be true (doesn't it?) Jim has devised one of the most extraordinarily powerful prediction effects that you will ever perform.

The memory of witnessing 'Til Death Do Us Part resonates with spectators long after the performance is over and most who watch it don't perceive it as any kind of 'trick' at all. It is simply an incredible story with an absolutely inexplicable ending.

Complete with all the necessary photos, full DVD instruction and discussion and PDF files to print more photos as required.

TILDEATH-FULL.jpg
 
Sep 1, 2007
36
2
You lay out 10 wedding photographs, spectator selects one at random. It matches a prediction you gave them earlier in an envelope that's in their back pocket, including how they chose to tear it. Of course, wrapped in a murder story.
 
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