Seeing how the trick was made

Text: an original contemporary performance-review-style practice extract.

After the show, the magician invited us to watch a small trick again with the method explained. I stayed because I wanted to catch him out, though he had already volunteered to make that impossible. He placed three cups on the table and talked us through the movement of his hands.

Knowing where the small ball travelled did not make his fingers slower. I could follow the intention and still lose the movement. This time I noticed the joke that directed attention away from one hand and the pause that invited us to inspect the other. The surprise had changed its object. Instead of wondering where the ball had gone, I wondered how a sequence I understood could remain so hard to see.

I would not want every performance interrupted by its own explanation. The first surprise needed room to happen. But afterwards, understanding the plan gave me another reason to admire its execution. A secret had been removed; speed, timing and the pleasure of watching someone do difficult work well remained on the table.

In this extract, the writer tries to show that explanation need not destroy enjoyment.

Evaluate how successfully this is achieved. Support your views with detailed reference to the extract.