Ishihara Test by Liam Levanon

Liam Levanon's 'Ishihara Test' is a clever and engaging routine that subverts the expectations of a standard color vision test. The effect begins by asking the spectator if they are color blind and presenting cards resembling Ishihara test plates, where they confidently identify numbers embedded within colored patterns. However, the surprising reveal is that the performer wasn't testing for color blindness at all, but rather testing the spectator's memory of the color of the back of the cards, initially presented as gray. Levanon emphasizes the simplicity of the method, allowing the performer to focus on presentation and rapport-building with the spectator. The routine cleverly leverages the familiarity of the Ishihara test to create a strong foundation of believability and a truly unexpected twist that will leave audiences surprised, even those who are color blind.