Copperfield innovates in illusions

David Copperfield, who has been practicing and performing acts of magic since the age of 12, still likes to think big.

He may have made the Statue of Liberty disappear and have levitated over the Grand Canyon, but he said there are still other feats of mystery he hopes to do.

For now, the performer, who will bring his show to Salt Lake City this weekend, is more than happy to make the magic personal.

This show, which features death-defying acts, inanimate objects brought to life and disappearing audience members, will take place Saturday, May 16, and Sunday, May 17, at Kingsbury Hall.

In an e-mail interview, Copperfield said audience reaction is one of the things that keeps the shows interesting.

"The unexpected moments from the audience, whether that is in the deadly scorpion illusion or when I vanish 13 people right before the audience's eyes, all of this makes each and every performance a unique experience — both for the audience AND for me," Copperfield said.

He said audience participation and new illusions also keep his shows from being like others.

"My show is constantly evolving ... new tricks are added, old ones are dropped ... so it stays fresh," Copperfield said. "It's the randomly selected participants from the audience that make it fresh each and every show," he said, adding that they "also provide some of the best comic relief of the day!"

When it comes to developing new illusions, Copperfield said he is influenced by the cinematic magic of Steven Spielberg and the polished theatrics of Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly, among other things.

"Inspiration for my illusions comes from many sources," he said. "Most come from a dream, nightmare, an encounter on the street, or my international travel to faraway lands and exotic locations. It really is myriad sources that provide the spark for the ultimate production that audiences witness (and are hopefully amazed by) on stage."

Copperfield says that he also utilizes emerging technologies to mystify his audience.

"Science and technology have often been used by the magician before they came into the marketplace on mass basis," he said.

"For example, prior to the moving picture going into theaters, magicians were using the technique of images in motion as illusions in their shows. At that time, the process was so new, an audience perceived it as magic."

"Also, in the early stages of holograms, magicians would use these images to baffle and mystify their fans."

Copperfield said there are still a few tricks he's hoping to perform, such as putting a woman's face on Mount Rushmore and straightening the Leaning Tower of Pisa.