Sometimes the jokes are just for me
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by DARRIN COOK (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Tuesday 10 March, 2026)
Master Payne has written a funny and thought-provoking set of lecture notes (more like a short book) largely on the subject of character-driven, story-based prop magic. It’s interesting to see what he does with the die box, for example, or the Tenyo spots card and Chinese sticks. All of these have entertaining, engaging presentations that make sense.
He stresses the importance of knowing what tricks your character would not do, not because they’re too difficult or too expensive, but because they’re inconsistent with your character and theme, which is explained in a section devoted to those subjects. He concludes with a section of tricks and a bibliography of sources for act and character development. I liked his version of the card stab.