Limelight by Mark Elsdon

“It’s brilliant." –Dave Forrest

"Limelight, so simple to do yet extremely clever and baffling. I watched Mark fry a room full of magicians with this, including myself, it really is very clever indeed! This has gone straight onto my A-list." -Gary Jones

“The construction of this routine is brilliant and I found myself grinning several times while reading through the routine. This is not something that you'll be using at every table - you could if you wanted, but that would dilute the real power of the effect. This is something that should be saved until the end of your gig with just one person taking the "limelight". This may be an often used magical cliché, but genuinely you won't be able to follow this!” –Iain Moran

“Hey Mark just wanted to say I have read Limelight straight through several times now and all I can say is **** ****!! This is so clever… I know this is going to go down a storm in Sleight bar. Thank you so much for a truly beautiful piece.” -Paul Brookes

"It is without a doubt, the best magic routine with cards I've seen in a long, long while. Kinda wish you kept it for yourself, but glad you didn't." -George A Woo

“This really is a masterfully constructed piece of magical entertainment. Having witnessed this being performed by Mark I know it's guaranteed to stun. I can't wait to start using it!” –Roddy McGhie

"Audience participation in magic tricks normally only serves to make the performer look good. Limelight cleverly changes the dynamic, enabling you to genuinely let your participant shine. I'll use this. Hugely recommended!" –James Went


Designed to be performed for a group of people, this is a multi-phase card routine that causes absolute pandemonium. The audience reaction is priceless! In my experience there is nothing that can follow Limelight either in terms of mystery or laughter.

A female spectator is quietly given a very simple instruction that enables her to perform incredible card magic.

She repeatedly finds selected cards, names selected cards and eventually performs an ACAAN with a free choice of number where the performer never touches the deck at all.

Any deck can be used and there is almost zero sleight-of hand for the performer to worry about and even less for the woman. If she can hold a deck, she's good to go.

And the best thing is that the woman doesn't have a clue how she is accomplishing any of the effects. If she is quizzed afterwards, the most she will be able to say is that she was doing 'something', but neither she nor the other spectators would have any clue how that was related to the effects she accomplished.

In my experience the woman absolutely relishes playing up her role as the star, and refuses all questions about what she was doing, because she loves being the center of attention!

The booklet contains all the handling and scripting details, as well as the psychology which strengthens the theatrical structure of the routine. It also discusses the selection of the correct person to use as the star and how to amplify their role to make their participation the absolute highlight of your performance.