He's made the Statue of Liberty disappear, levitated over the Grand Canyon, and made the Great Wall of China look penetrable by walking through it. The Emmy-award winning illusionist known as David Copperfield has gone to great lengths, literally, to captivate audiences throughout his 34 year career.
On this night -- Friday, October 16th at approximately 9:12 p.m. -- and in front of a half-packed Milwaukee Theatre that included one of his biggest fans, my wife Amy, Mr. Copperfield, the best magician I've ever seen was preparing himself for his ultimate trick. It's a trick that he's used for years. It's a trick that I won't soon forget, encapsulated in this quote:
"The real secret of magic lies in the performance." --David Copperfield
With the lights dim and blue and purple spotlights beaming, his show begins with a look at the pop culture side of himself. It portrayed talk show hosts like David Letterman and Conan O'Brien using Copperfield‘s name loosely. It featured impersonations of the magic hero, including an unforgettable Robin Williams act. And best of all, it showed the impact the illusionist legend has had on movies, TV shows and the entertainment industry as a whole.
Now, I have to admit that I was a little disappointed not see the intense buzz saw trick that Mr. Copperfield made famous, but to his credit he did show off a few of the old classics to go along with a pretty good comedy act. He kept the audience engaged, entertained and once again captivated throughout the approximately 72-minute performance.
From entering the show on a Harley-Davidson motorcycle in the middle of a square sheet covered box, to making a paper rose dance and burn in to a real red one, David Copperfield and all his fascinating tricks, including his Grandpa's Green Lincoln Convertible, left me and the audience begging for more.
Sure, the tickets may have put a hole in my wallet, but overall I have to hand it to Mr. Copperfield, he did it again. Not only did he make a few hundred hearts race, he made my wife gleam from head to toe on her birthday, making me realize in the end that the money was all just an illusion.
So how does he do it? His performance of course, and on this night it was the ultimate magic trick.
Thank you to the Milwaukee Theatre for a great set-up spear-headed by Vince the show manager. And thank you for coming to Milwaukee, Mr. Copperfield.
