Copperfield flies into Detroit

By Aaron Rich

Daily Arts Writer

Before I first saw David Copperfield live on stage, I was skeptical of the magician's abilities. Until that point I had only seen him on television, mostly performing some of the biggest and over-hyped tricks I, or for that matter the world, had ever seen. I always felt that his continual pleas that there were "no camera tricks" were just an invitation for suspecting exactly the opposite.

So when the master conjurer stepped on the stage from a seemingly empty, smoke-filled elevator, I was not sure if what I was about to see would be really amazing or just silly and kitschy.

Copperfield live "in concert" was one of the most impressive shows I've ever seen in person or on television.

For one thing, he is a fantastic entertainer and a very sharp guy - and this is no surprise considering how successful he is. He knows how to run a smooth show so that we never get bored and we always wait excitedly for the next trick.

So, I'm excited to get to see him again when his "Journey of a Lifetime" tour comes to the Fox Theater in Detroit this weekend for a five performance run.

It need not be said that his tricks are elaborate and grand. The highlight of this weekend's show is what Copperfield considers a "post-modern" magic trick where he vanishes thirteen audience members who apparently never return (as the billing goes, some of these people come back... sometimes).

But this trick is not to be outdone by such wonders as Copperfield flying across and around stage for a few minutes, or him cutting himself in half with a laser (which simply has to be seen to be believed).

Copperfield is also a master of the good old prestidigitation (slight of hand to the unknowing). He will perform a fancy version of the venerable "cut and restored" rope trick and an audience-participation card trick in which each member of the audience is given a set of cards, and Copperfield magically makes everyone pick out the same one.

But the magician's sense of style and comedy are what are the most impressive parts of his show. Several other tricks involve members of the audience, and with each one he carries on surprisingly witty banter. Perhaps this fact is not too surprising considering Copperfield is the most well known, most seen magician in America - if he were not entertaining, he would not be so successful.

Seeing a Copperfield show makes me feel a strong connection to older magic shows of the same grand size. There is a feeling when watching the "Journey of a Lifetime" that his delivery is so smooth and calculated that we are part of a history of big stage shows, which goes back as far as the time of Houdini. Copperfield is no doubt more MTV than the escape artist ever was, but the connection is there regardless.

And while Copperfield has made a name for himself on the small screen, there's nothing that comes close to seeing the magic for yourself.

- For show times, information and tickets, call the Fox Theater Box Office or TicketMaster at

(248) 433-1515.

Courtesy of Brass Ring

David Copperfield, svengali supreme.