"Xtension" by Alex Kolle
Suggested Retail USD$35.00
Available from your favorite dealer
In a Blink: 9 Out of 10

"Xtension", a new release by Alex Kolle, is a very good trick but the real reason to buy this one is the thoroughly-taught training in making your own flavors of the gaff which will have many a performer coming up with new, starting, and perhaps stunning pieces of magic.

Let's cut to the chase with this one: Alex Kolle created "The Hawk", so you pretty much know what's what with this release. Yes, it's an "extension" of the Hawk, but what an extension! A sticky note is scribbled on and visibly those scribbles become anything you want, from the spectator's name to the name of a card or anything else you'd like. Then the note is peeled away and given to the spectator -- it's as clean as can be.

Now, I'm not going to hit this one too hard, for reasons that will be clear in a moment. For the time being, suffice to say this is a cute trick and, while no one will want to start a religion around you, it is entertaining and striking. It's also very practical, though that part depends largely on what you do with it. Over all, it's a fine trick and one that can be a truly shocking piece of work.

But I don't recommend you buy "Xtension" for the trick; it's the craft section here that's the real thing. You know the old adage about giving a man a fish and he eats for a day, but teach him to fish and he's eat forever? Well, in this case, forget the trick and learn how to make your own version of everything from "The Hawk" to this to whatever your imagination can come up with using that type of gimmick and you'll be on the way to perhaps making your own stunning magical pieces.

And before you turn pale at the idea -- perhaps you've seen the gimmick and believe that putting one together is a time-consuming, difficult, and frustrating experience -- let me say that Kolle teaches a method for making the gimmick that took me less than thirty seconds to make and, at least to my eye and experience, it is more durable than the "traditional" way of making the thing.

Yes, folks, that one idea is worth the price of the disc. The trick is a good one and you'll like it and probably love doing it; the ideas on actually making the gimmick is the gold here and truly, this is something every close-up worker should at least be aware of in the same way we're aware that double-stick tape can make a card appear to vanish. It's that fundamental and foundational an idea.

For that reason alone, this is one I wholeheartedly recommend.

"Xtension" by Alex Kolle
In a Blink: 9 Out of 10

Practicality: 8
A great deal relies on what you plan to do with this one, but with the exception of possibly some private time resetting the gimmick, this is a very practical piece of work.

Workmanship: 9
The workmanship is very good, though you'll need to replace the gimmick after a time.

Documentation: 10
Here's where Kolle shines. His documentation covers not just how to perform the routine, but is a virtual dissertation on how to build the gimmick and several other flavors of the thing. This is the entire reason to buy this disk.

Effect: 8
Again, it depends on what you do with it, but virtually everything will get a very good, solid reaction because it looks so good.

Presentation: 8
No presentational bits here other than the visuals the gimmick packs and the handling which is wonderfully clean. Give it some thought, throw some ideas into it, and this could be a winner for you.

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.