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El Ropo Review

Two DVDs, $40 bucks and one El Ropo Review. Is it gem or is it rubble? Stay tuned to find out.

Effect

Check out the ad copy for more details, but here's a brief overview. You get a bunch of rope effects, mostly, knot effects. You get a couple of card tricks, torn and restored, card to impossible location and a multiple selection routine. There's one coin trick, a thimble manipulation effect and a cups and balls effect using Dixie cups and aluminum foil balls.

Method

The methods are all pretty easy. They'll take some practice, but they're definitely legitimate and do-able for the average performer. The multiple selection routine requires a hat. The cards are all selected and put back in the deck. The deck is placed in the hat. The deck is mixed around. When it's removed from the hat, all of the cards are facing one way, and the selections are facing another way. This relies on a property of certain types of hats. Other than that, you don't need anything special to make this stuff work.

Phil Van Tee reminds me, a little bit, of David Williamson. His performance style is similar and silly like Williamson. That being said, his performance style allows some of the tricks to play a certain way for him that may not work for you. However, I think that most people would be able to easily customize the routines for their own characters.

El Ropo Review: Ad Copy Integrity

The ad copy is plain and simple and accurately covers the contents. Not much to say here folks.

El Ropo Review: Product Quality

The 2 DVDs are produced well and shot well, but again No Play All button! Argh! That aside, the teaching was pretty good. The interview segments were very valuable. Phil Van Tee gives us a good insight into character development, his journey over the years, etc. This type of information is very valuable to people looking to take things to the next level. There were a lot of excellent pro tips.

Final Thoughts

If you're looking for some good tips on performance, persona and creativity, I think you'll be happy with this purchase. There are also a lot of routines taught that you may be interested in as well. I'd say that the majority of the routines are performed with a very stripped down and minimal presentation, so you won't learn presentation. You'll learn effects. I think that's a good thing. It forces you to find your own character.

So if any of those things interest you, I think you'll appreciate this product.

Final Verdict:
4 Stars with a Stone Status of Gem.

Available at your Favorite Magic Dealer. Dealer's see Murphy's Magic For Details.