Wi Review
Wi by Jason Messina
Price: $21.95
Available From: Your favorite dealer
This is going to be a short review, simply because I can’t say a lot without tipping the method. Yes, it’s one of those.
I appreciate the thinking behind this. It’s clever as hell, and would fool people. The method is unlike anything I’ve ever seen, but I don’t know how foolproof it is. I can definitely see some people never thinking of this, but others having it be the first thing they think of.
Another point is that this probably isn’t for the casual performer. It would play better for strangers than for your friends. It’s similar to what John LeBlanc said about Ben Harris’s Hole in the Head (if I may paraphrase slightly): It’s as though you could do a great levitation, but you had to walk with a cane. Your friends would know that you never used a cane before and suspect that something was up, but strangers that don’t know you don’t normally use a cane would be fine with it.
I have ideas for how to incorporate this into a formal show, and I think that’s how it would be best used. I’d caution you to think about it a little bit, and not just use it as presented because I can see a couple problems that would arise. I don’t know if they’re big problems and I can’t say what they are here (one of those tricks, remember?) but just be warned.
I like Wi, but I can see why a lot of people wouldn’t. It’s clever, but tread with caution. This isn’t for everybody. If you don’t mind spending money on what amounts to an idea, this could be for you.
Andster