This routine is developed from At Her Majesty’s Command by IAN ADAIR. The original effect had Her Majesty the Queen “command” the card a spectator would choose. However as her Majesty under reference is no more with us, and to give the effect a more generic flavor, we have modified the original presentation (with Ian’s permission and approval) to the routine that follows.
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Holding a large envelope, the performer states that inside it is a large replica of a playing card to reveal the identity of a freely selected card. The envelope is kept in full view throughout.
A spectator selects a card from a shuffled deck (let’s say it is the Four of Hearts) The large card is slowly removed from the envelope. The audience immediately see that it is the Queen of Spades.
The card is shown front and back, and replaced in the envelope. “This is my prediction card. Am I right ? Just answer Yes, or No – don’t tell anyone yet what your selected card was.” the performer advises the spectator. “No” she answers. It looks as though the performer has failed miserably. He hands over the closed envelope which contains his prediction card to the spectator asking her to secretly whisper the name of her selected card to the Queen under her breath, so no one else is aware of it’s identity. She is now asked to hand over the closed envelope to another spectator – who is asked to remove the prediction card partway, and ask the Queen the identity of the selected card. And the audience is bowled over, when the second spectator correctly reveals it was the Four of Hearts, and it is confirmed by the initial spectator that made the selection.
You can end the effect at this point, or take it a step further to expose how the second spectator correctly guessed the identity of the selected card. For when the jumbo sized Queen of Spades is slowly removed, there’s a cartoon bubble coming out from her mouth. It reveals “The selected card was the Four of Hearts”
Everything can be left on the table for spectators to handle.
We supply two specially printed jumbo cards, only one is used during a presentation. The other is for repeat shows, or table-hopping sessions, when you want the predicted playing card to be
different.