"Mash Pack" by Garrett Thomas
Suggested Retail USD$40.00
Available from your favorite dealer
In a Blink: 10 Out of 10

"Mash Pack", an effect by Garrett Thomas, is power beyond powerful, it's magic that you do for yourself just because it looks so good, and drops spectators through a hole in their logical universe; this ain't your typical card trick.

Yeah, I'm high on this one. It is what it is (and if there's a magician around who can't figure this one out from one performance, they need to start their magic education all over again) but it's a quick, shocking, and surprising opener and it looks great.

The basic routine is simple enough: the audience sees you holding a deck in a card box. Suddenly the box is gone and the deck is left in your hands. After being displayed, the deck is squared and becomes a box again. There are no sleights, no moves, nothing more than what's just been described. And it's weird.

"Mash Pack" is simple to do (really, really, really simple) and completely self-contained. There's nothing added or taken away from this. It just appears to happen. If you want to add a little bit more work, Thomas has worked out a great sequence which allows you to end with a normal, ungaffed box and cards.

Now throw in an idea by Paul Harris, "The PH Box-Back Deck" for kicks and you've got a couple of weird, off-the-wall effects that are not only entertaining, but fun to do.

"The Box-Back Deck" is tangentially related to "Mash Pack" in that you've got cards and cases just don't staying the way they should. In it, a selected card blends with a card box which now looks like a deck of cards while the deck changes to look more like the card box. Yeah, it's weird, but in a cool sorta way.

I love my "Mash Pack". I love that it can be stretched out to be more than it is -- Thomas covers a ton of tips and a few routines on the DVD including things like the card box and the deck changing places. I love "The Box-Back Deck" as well, simply because it plays to the theme and combining the two into one great opening bit is not much of a stretch.

I think "Mash Pack" will end up being a "love it/hate it" kind of thing for most of our number. There'll be those that love the looks of it, maybe fall for the uniqueness of the props, and find a warm place in their hearts and acts for it. Others will dismiss it as looking too obvious and not being worth the money.

This is one of the rare times I say to let the video be your guide. Take a look at it and see it it appeals. If it does, then this one is for you. It's pretty much that simple.

"Mash Pack" by Garrett Thomas
In a Blink: 10 Out of 10

Practicality: 10
You're giving up some pocket space here, but considering the routine and the clean finish, it's probably worth it. There's little else to be of concern here. True enough, this one plays better standing than sitting, but only just and that depending on the routine itself. All told, this is a very practical work.

Workmanship: 10
This one was put together head-to-toe by USPCC and looks gorgeous.

Documentation: 10
The instructions -- on DVD -- are wonderfully thorough. You'll have no problem learning this one.

Effect: 10
Weird and off the wall, this one knocks them for a loop based on pure surprise.

Presentation: 10
It's got an open handling, it's more visual than visual, and it's stronger than can be believed. This is a solid keeper.


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.