Page Fright by Strange Stage

Created by: Strange Stage

Page Fright is a mentalism and bizarre magic trick that transforms a classic 1984 Fighting Fantasy gamebook, 'House of Hell', into a haunted prop for an interactive storytelling experience. As a spectator, you are immersed in a spooky narrative where you choose how to enter a mysterious house, leading to personalized character readings and branching into one of four distinct urban myths, each with its own deceptive method for a clean, direct revelation of a predicted word or outcome. This close-up or parlor magic effect requires minimal memory work and no complex pre-show, making it a portable and practical tool for creating eerie, engaging performances that can be the centerpiece of a show. Buyers should note it is designed for repeatable, adaptable use with a focus on audience participation and theatrical presentation.

Key features

Uses an authentic recreation of the 'House of Hell' gamebook as a prop
Involves interactive storytelling with participant choices driving the narrative
Branches into four distinct urban myths for varied performances
Requires minimal memory work and no complex pre-show setup
Ideal for mentalism, bizarre magic, and theatrical shows
Modular system allowing for repeatable and adaptable routines

Pros

Highly engaging and immersive for audiences
Clean and deceptive revelation methods
Portable and practical for various performance settings
No need for extensive memory or pre-show work
Versatile with multiple performance pathways

Cons

Requires strong presentation and audience management skills
May not suit performers who prefer impromptu or non-prop-based magic

Effect

Page Fright presents as an interactive storytelling experience. A spectator is guided through a spooky narrative where they make choices, such as how to enter a mysterious house. Based on their decisions, the performer delivers a personalized character reading. The routine then branches into different eerie urban myths, culminating in a moment where a word or thought the spectator has is seemingly predicted within the pages of an old book. The overall effect is a personalized and immersive mentalism piece with a strong Halloween or bizarre magic feel.

Full details

Page Fright uses a specially produced book, which is a faithful recreation of the 1984 Fighting Fantasy gamebook "House of Hell." The book is fully playable but serves as the central prop for the magic routine. The method is modular, allowing the performer to present one of four distinct effects based on the participant's choices. This structure provides multiple performance pathways, making the routine repeatable with different outcomes. The system is designed to offer a clean revelation without the need for extensive memory work or complex pre-show preparation. The creators focused on authentic details, including the specific paper and cover lamination, to make the book feel like a genuine vintage artifact.

Who should consider the trick

Page Fright is ideal for performers who specialize in mentalism or bizarre magic. It suits magicians looking for a prop-based routine that creates a strong theatrical atmosphere. This trick is excellent for those who want to build an act with a Halloween theme or a spooky presentation. It is also a good choice for performers who enjoy interactive storytelling and want a routine that deeply involves the audience. The modular nature of the effect makes it adaptable for different performance settings, from close-up to parlor shows.

Information on how difficult it is to perform

The method for Page Fright is described as clever and deceptive, requiring minimal memory work. The primary challenge lies in the presentation and audience management to maximize the effect's impact. Performers will need to be comfortable with guiding a participant through an interactive story and making smooth transitions between the different narrative branches. The technical skill required to operate the method is not high, but successful performance depends on the magician's ability to create and maintain an engaging, eerie atmosphere.

What magicians say

Reviewers from AlakazamMagicUK highlight the deceptive method and clean revelation of Page Fright. They note that it "provides a convincing book test experience without the need for extensive memory work." One reviewer appreciated that it is "a practical mentalism piece" that is both "portable and practical." Another pointed out its value as a "spooky book test that fits the Halloween theme perfectly." The trick is praised for being a "modular system" that allows for "repeatable, adaptable performances." Reviewers also emphasized its strong audience engagement, stating it can be the "centerpiece of a mentalism or bizarre magic show."

What people are saying about Page Fright

AlakazamMagicUK says...

Page Fright is a spooky book test that fits the Halloween theme perfectly, where a spectator’s chosen word appears to be predicted within the pages of a haunted book. [...] The reviewers appreciated the method, which they found to be clever and deceptive, providing a clean and direct revelation.