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Reform 52 by Matthew Wright
I’ve always been a big fan of TNR routines. I’ve tried almost all of them over the years. The thing I like about this version is that they have clear evidence that the card was actually torn and restored because it’s restored in an altered state.
This is the third version of this trick from Matthew. First it was D4M then Beyond Reform and now Reform 52. Essentially, all of these versions are the same trick. A card is torn into quarters and restored in an impossible way with the corners facing in different directions. Reform 52 is the newest release for Matthew in the plot. It’s the same method as Beyond Reform, but this version comes with a full 52 card deck of gimmicks (Beyond Reform came with 26 gimmicks and 26 matching cards.) That means you get twice as many performances out of this deck.
This version also comes with a refined handling that makes each piece look very singular during the signing. You also get access to the Beyond Reform tutorial with Elliot Gerrard. He covers a two card transposition routine that gives a reason for the card being torn in the first place. Throughout that tutorial they teach methods that range from beginner to more advanced, but all of them are basic sleight of hand.
They also show two different ways to “prep” the cards. The cards could be used right out of the box, but that’s definitely not recommended. The cards need some time to make them look good. It requires a craft knife and a little patience to get the cards to look perfect. It’s pretty time consuming, but in an hour or two you could prep the entire deck if you wanted. Currently I just have three prepared at all times. After I perform the trick, I prep another card. But if you’re planning on using this all night at a gig, you’re going to want to devote some time to preparing multiple cards.
I’ve actually been using this by having eight people sign the front and back of each piece. It’s definitely overkill, but I like the build up of impossibility it creates. Realistically, the version that Matthew teaches first with the spectators signing three pieces and the performer signing one is probably the best way to go, but I wanted to involve more people which is why I have them sign the front and back. I came up with my own handling based on Elliot’s handling. I’d be happy to share a video with owners if you can show proof of ownership in a DM or email.
I think it’s great, and I’m already using it. If you like the concept, there’s nothing that’s going to surprise you about this.
They are currently sold out on Vanishing Inc with new stock coming in April, but it seems to be available from other online dealers. If you’re one of the fortunate ones attending Blackpool, I hear Matthew will have stock available there as well. At $25, it’s hard to beat the price.
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