January 15-21, 2004

mixpicks

Q & A: David Copperfield

by A.D. Amorosi

David Copperfield, 47, with his Thunderdome-in-Vegas theatricality, is an old-school illusionist with rock-schtar charm. Even when you've sussed his secrets, Copperfield, who's been training since he was eight, has a way of mindfucking even the smartest, by making audiences disappear or by leaping through steel, as he does in his new Grand Illusion -- a show based primarily on satisfying the audience's dreams and desires for reconciliation

City Paper: Disbelievers surely think they're onto you. How are savvy audiences a consideration?

David Copperfield: There'll always be those people who want to know how an illusion is performed. They may even come to several shows to try and figure it out. I have four or five methods to performing each illusion if anyone should get close. When people do tell me that they think they know how I do one of the illusions, they are usually way off. But I love hearing people's hypotheses -- they're amusing.

CP: You're making magic that must go beyond the realm of cinematic and theatrical effects to keep up with those media. Is effect-laden magic able to create the intimacy necessary for maintaining close-knit rapport?

DC: I try to keep illusions as simple as possible. I want the audience to enjoy the show and not be overwhelmed or have to do too much thinking. When I started, I focused on bigger illusions. Now that I've accomplished those, I've decided to do magic that really affects people. There is nothing more intimate then inviting an audience member onstage to be involved in an illusion that took over two years to perfect.

CP: Dreams revealed, loved ones reunited -- it seems a bit John Edwards. How do you remove yourself from that which is rooted in the spiritual?

DC: I don't look at my illusions in a spiritual sense. Everyone relates because we've all dreamed. Most people dream of winning the lottery or being reunited with a loved one. How many people dream about pulling a rabbit out of a hat?

CP: What's the most painful of the newer scenes?

DC: Squeezebox tends to cause physical discomfort. Being 6-foot-1 becomes a disadvantage when you're being squeezed into a box. Killer has the opportunity to be painful if it doesn't go well as it involves sleight of hand with a lethal black African scorpion. Every night I test fate with that.

CP: Does the word "trick" bother you?

DC: The work "trick" doesn't offend me but I try to stay away from using it. I'm an illusionist. My show's not about tricks and fooling people; it's about magic and involving people in the experience. Even at a young age, when I did magic I wanted people to be impressed with what I could do. I never wanted to deceive them.

An Intimate Evening of Grand Illusion with David Copperfield, Fri., Jan. 16, 6 p.m. and 9 p.m.; Sat., Jan. 17, 2:30 p.m., 5:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., $25.75-$67.75, Academy of Music, Broad and Locust sts., 215-893-1999.