Copperfield will bring a ‘Grand Illusion’

By John Benson

Abracadabra, David Copperfield reappears for two shows Thursday at Powers Auditorium in Youngstown.

As one of the greatest illusionists and stage magicians of our generation, the 53-year-old New Jersey native has seemingly done the impossible. His r sum includes flying across the Grand Canyon, walking through the Great Wall of China and making the Statue of Liberty disappear. Today, Copperfield, who began performing professionally at the age of 12, remains busy touring the world or vacationing at his own island in the Bahamas.

Then there’s his current show, “Grand Illusion,” which finds the magic man performing sleight-of-hand with a lethal black African scorpion, squeezing into a small area, floating through solid steel and more. The Vindicator caught up with him for an e-mail interview regarding the difficulty of his illusions, the widespread appeal of magic and the message behind his art.

Q. What’s new in David Copperfield’s world?

A. I am enjoying performing my show 500 times a year. And on my days off, I travel to my island, Musha Cay at Copperfield Bay. Check it out at www.mushacay.com.

Q. In looking back at your career, what’s been the hardest illusion to pull off?

A. I would have to say my favorite/hardest illusion was “Flying,” which took me seven years to create, though it’s not in the current show. I try to have my illusions move people emotionally, and I believe this one really took people back to another time and place, to their youth, when dreams of flight are a common occurrence.

Q. Is there one illusion that still eludes you to this day? Also, how long are you in pre-production before taking a new illusion out on tour?

A. Well, a few things I have always wanted to do is put a woman’s face on Mount Rushmore and straighten the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Production can vary greatly. There is no set time — sometimes days, weeks, months or even years. It depends on the complexity of the illusion and the number of people involved in the illusion. I have the luxury of having my own secret staging warehouse somewhere in the Nevada desert, which gives me the freedom to take as much time as needed to perfect the larger illusions that require split-second timing.

Q. Is there a message to your illusions?

A. I make people’s dreams come true. People dream about a new car, so I make a car appear. I show you how it’s possible to win the lottery, and also I transport audience members to an exotic island — all this with randomly selected people from the audience. I really get in touch with people’s dreams and make them reality. If you’ve ever wanted to be transported away, to another time and place, come to this show and see the magic happen.

Q. Why should people come out to see your upcoming Youngstown shows?

A. Because it’s a long drive to Las Vegas from Ohio. Seriously, magic is the oldest of all the performing arts, practiced in an unbroken success back through the time of King Arthur’s Court, the ancient Pharaohs of Egypt and beyond. I think the art of magic will endure no matter what technology brings our way. It’s an opportunity to suspend your disbelief and be emotionally transported to another place and time.