very much so it would. but theres a trick to it. slight defocusing of the star in a newt gives the secondary shadow, you can get that shadow just large enough to be the same thickness as the hair, and the star illuminates the glue.
and then you can watch it drift from one side to the other easy as.
Yes a illuminated rectical is the best option though pretty dyam expensive and when your starting out its sometimes not a option.
so this gives a cost effective (see almost free) rectical.