Paul Romhany- Briefcase Illusion
Paul Romhany · 2011
The Briefcase Illusion booklet is a compact, 50‑page guide packed with colorful photos and practical instructions for building Paul Romhany’s signature stage illusion. Although some explanations require rereading and a bit of DIY skill, the booklet provides detailed plans, step‑by‑step setup images, and creative routine variations. It’s a unique resource for magicians who enjoy constructing their own props and want an illusion that sets up quickly, packs flat, and plays big on stage.
I recently picked up The Briefcase Illusion booklet, and after working through it, I can say it’s a fascinating little resource for anyone interested in building a practical stage illusion. It’s a thin booklet of about 50 pages, but it’s packed with colorful photos and plenty of visual references that help you understand the construction and handling of the illusion.
The concept itself is brilliant: an illusion that sets up in minutes, packs flat, and can be used for appearances, vanishes, corporate productions, or even comedy bits. Paul Romhany has clearly used this in real working conditions for decades, and that experience shows.
That said, the booklet isn’t perfect. Some explanations are a bit unclear, and I found myself rereading certain sections to fully understand what was meant. A few steps require you to think through the mechanics on your own. You definitely need basic DIY skills — measuring, aligning hinges, and understanding how the table conceals the assistant. It’s not difficult, but it’s not plug‑and‑play either.
Once you get past that, the illusion itself is extremely practical. The design is clever, lightweight, and flexible enough to adapt to different props (briefcase, box, hat, suitcase). The included photos, 3D/2D plans, and step‑by‑step setup images are helpful, and the bonus video links showing live performances and pack‑down are a nice touch.
Overall, this is a unique and original illusion concept that you can realistically build in a weekend. If you enjoy constructing your own magic props and want something that plays big on stage, this booklet is absolutely worth having — even if you need to puzzle through a few sections to get everything just right.