Now you see it, now you don’t.
The mainstream profile of magic seems to weave in and out of American culture as subtly as a card trick. Professional illusionists have been around since ancient Egypt, but translating their art to large audiences – mediated or not – requires extra flair.
It presents a particular challenge to anyone wanting to wow our increasingly technology-addled culture. Today spectacle and craft are inextricably woven into magic shows of any scale.
“It’s those two plus real emotion,” said David Copperfield, 50, the world’s most famous working magician. “Of course, having a good time is the fourth ingredient, and I try not to take myself too seriously.”
When Copperfield performs his “Intimate Evening of Grand Illusion” in Colorado next week, it will be on the heels of a renewed spate of magic-oriented pop-culture offerings. Last summer’s films “The Prestige” and “The Illusionist,” plus the televised sleight-of-hand by street magician David Blaine and the legendary Ricky Jay remind us that magic shows once enjoyed a higher pop-culture profile.
“Magic made a big resurgence in the mid-’90s with a lot of TV specials and actual performances, then it kind of backed off,” said Keir Royale, 36, a Denver-based magician who performs at corporate events. “I haven’t seen a huge increase in the number of bookings lately.”
Royale, a member of the 49-year-old Mile High Magicians Alliance, makes a comfortable living performing magic, but supplements it with motivational speaking and comedy gigs. Indeed, conjuring success on the magic circuit requires a great deal of realism these days, and only a few names reach every household.
Credit Copperfield’s towering reputation with his mixture of showmanship and business savvy. He started performing professionally at 12 and became the youngest person ever admitted to the Society of American Magicians. Four years later, he was at New York University teaching a course in magic.
Since, he has conquered Broadway sales records, been knighted in France and won 21 Emmy Awards for his TV specials.
His illusions include making the Statue of Liberty “disappear” and such grand-scale televised stunts involving the Grand Canyon and the Great Wall of China.
Currently ranked as world’s 13th highest-paid entertainer – he earned more than $1 billion the past decade – he performs a daunting 500 shows a year.
“If I wasn’t using as much audience participation, I would be bored with the show,” Copperfield admitted. “It’s the thing that makes it worth it, really.”
In the tradition of the great escape artist Harry Houdini, most modern magicians involve their audience whenever possible, furthering illusions with up-close interaction. But even then, it is a delicate balance.
“David Copperfield is probably one of the least skilled magicians on the planet, but one of the most skilled entertainers,” said Keir Royale. “It’s the most entertaining show I know.”
Another local magician, who declined to go on record, said despite the “flimsiness” of some of Copperfield’s tricks, he admired the man’s showmanship and discipline.
Royale certainly will attend Copperfield’s shows next week. He got into magic as a child in Wichita after his uncle passed down his collection of tricks. Royale even overcame a learning disability with magic, using it to focus his attention and interact with others. He eventually gave up his job as a charter pilot for the University of Colorado to make magic his profession.
Copperfield also knows the benefits of magic’s discipline. His Project Magic is celebrating 25 years of teaching people with disabilities the art of illusion.
“The moment I saw the reaction of patients in hospitals I knew it was going to be around for a while,” Copperfield said. “A lot of people that have been through the program have actually gone on to teach magic to other patients.”
Project Magic is now a self-sustaining program that has reached 1,000 hospitals in 30 countries, helping take patients’ minds off their maladies by teaching them a unique craft.
Copperfield also has branched out professionally by purchasing an island in the Bahamas dubbed Musha Cay – available for private rental, mind you – which he claims may contain the Fountain of Youth.
“I’m not sure what the future holds but right now I’m enjoying seeing what it can do,” said the illusionist, who is conducting “tests” on the water. “It can do very simple things, like have an effect on near-death leaves and insects.”
Smart, albeit truth-stretching, self-promotion and diversified interests are the future of working magicians. Most up-and-comers would do well to learn a trick or two from the reigning king.
Staff writer John Wenzel can be reached at 303-954-1642 or jwenzel@denverpost.com.
| David Copperfield
ART OF ILLUSION |Pikes Peak Center, Tuesday, 5:30 p.m. & 8:30 p.m., TicketsWest; Budweiser Events Center, Wednesday, 6 p.m. & 9 p.m.|$27-$52|TicketsWest (Tuesday) or ComcastTix.com (Wednesday)
