ULTIMATE OIL & WATER by Anthony Owen

Note: Video review is halfway down, under "The JDG Tip"

What The Audience Sees:
“Okay, so I'm still in mass mental meltdown after that trick Jamie showed us on Friday. I mean, he didn't do any funny moves or gestures, or any abracadabray kind of stuff, or anything! He simply showed us six cards, 3 red & 3 black. And he laid them down, alternating the colour. Red, black, red, black, red, black. Then "poof" they were separated! Red, red, red, black, black, black! It was just so...magical! I don't know what else to say! It was real, true magic. And he did it three times! and the last time he did it? Get this! He did it face up!!!I'm speechless..."


How It Went:
If you were right beside me, at this moment, watching me type, you'd see the huge smile on my face. I love this trick. Love it! As many of you know, I don't review bad magic (I can't really go around showing bad magic, can I?) but there's some that I review, that I like more than others. And Anthony Owen's "Ultimate Oil & Water" is now at the top of my list. When it comes to magic that I keep with me, in my wallet, this is probably the first thing I'll be pulling out in the future.

The thing that I loved about Friday was that it is such a clear effect to explain and describe. Six cards alternating colour magically separate into three and three of each. Period. Visually, it is just as clear. It's like the audience was watching the magic happening at that moment. When I showed that the colours were grouped together, people got the feeling that it was happening right at that moment.

Combine that with the fact that I can do it three times, with each time escalating in proof and impossibility, and you have a sure-fire winner. I had such great reactions all day that it was an absolute pleasure to have to work, lol. There wasn't a single "meh" reaction from all the times I performed it, either. Gasps and shock were the orders of the day.


The Difficulty:
This isn't a hard trick at all but you will need to practise it a bit. It's important to put the time into this if you want the confidence needed to not worry. 3/5.


Best Lines:
“Where are we?! Are we still in Vancouver?!”

~This is an awesome line, lol.

“Amazing, amazing, amazing."

~What more can you ask for?.


Angry Bob Rating:

For those of you reading this article for the first time, Angry Bob is a co-worker who has an understanding of some magic because his uncle was a magician. Angry Bob knows that TT’s exist, for example, but he has no desire to become a magician himself. He also has an anger management problem that can be experienced first hand if he can’t figure out how a trick is done. A high rating means he has no idea.

Angry Bob is having a hard time these days. I might have to bust out a TT trick next week to give him a break. I seriously thought he was going to have a heart attack right in front of me. Needless to say- no clue.

"$#%# it. I don't even want to know." 4.5/5.


My Rating:

Magic Friday Approved!
A new packet trick- hurrah! I know I've been going on and on about my summer project of only doing magic with borrowed decks but I stil allow myself one packet trick to be on me at all times. Ultimate Oil & Water is now that trick! I also realize that there are many versions of this effect and that opinions vary on personal favourites. For me, this is my new favourite- I'll stand by that!


The JDG Tip:

The iTricks Idea:
Read it here!


Closing Thoughts:
Thanks for reading and watching everyone! If you are reading this in the summer of 2010, I highly suggest you go over to www.professional-magician.com and take a look at my "Send Wonder" campaign. If it's years later- thanks for reading, and watching!

All my best,

Jamie D. Grantwww.cardsinabottle.com