Rafael Benatar gently and seductively insinuates his enchantments into an audience's collective consciousness. He does not pummel audiences with puzzles or vex them with bewilderments. Instead, he gifts them with the wonderments of their own dreams. Jon Racherbaumer
Great hands, great intelligence, great feeling.Juan Tamariz
Rafael is, without any doubt, a master of that weapon, so difficult to handle, but so greatly efficient, which is timing. Arturo de Ascanio
An experienced performer on the lute and various types of guitars, Rafael Benatar applies his legendary skills into the mastery of performing and creating magic. Having traveled to well over 300 cities, Rafael is an active member of Escuela Magica de Madrid, and a regular performer at the Magic Castle in Hollywood.
Rafael Benatar combines wit, humor, and well-honed craftsmanship to the amazement and delight of audiences across the globe. Now he brings his magic to us here At The Table. We'll get a first-hand look at Rafael's unique style and command of the craft, and learn many tricks from his repertoire. Join us and Rafael Benatar right here, At The Table. Here's what you'll learn:
Illogical Conclusion - The effect begins with four unseen cards face down on the table and four red cards in Rafael's hands. He openly switches a card, then two cards, and then three cards from one pile to the other, all while the cards in his hands remain completely red. The trick doesn't seem to make sense until he finally shows that the cards on the table are all black.
Shadow Does It (Judah-Maven-Benatar) - Four black cards are placed face down in a row on the table, and four red cards are shown in Rafael's hands. By casting a shadow, and without touching any of the black cards, each red card is switched with each of the black cards, one at a time.
This Way or the Other Way - The ace through five of the same suit are shuffled together and you show that you have kept control by showing the ace, then the two and the three, which are laid face down in a row. When two cards are left, you ask the spectators which one should go next. To everyone's surprise, the whole row of cards is reversed.
Ambitious Birthday - This is a version of Larry Jennings's "Ambitious Classic" with a surprise presentation for somebody's birthday.
Karate - A red ten is thrown in the air and split into two fives with a karate blow. The operation is repeated with a different card and with an odd-value card.
The Christ Countdown - A puzzling trick where the spectator shuffles and does all the work, and still arrives at a card you had predicted.
Flying Chopstick - A killer impromptu for a Chinese restaurant.
Elastic Thumb - A fun quickie.
Finger Percussion - A bit of by-play that will fool people for just a moment of fun.
Mystery of Kabala - The spectator freely thinks of a card or looks at one in a deck he holds. He follows your simple instructions with the cards while you look away. You make a few guesses and, before anyone believes you have any information, you name the card.
Oil and Water -: Rafael performs two phases of Ascanio's celebrated "Oil and Water" routine leading into Roy Walton's "Oil and Queens" for a kicker ending.
