David Copperfield -- some illusions shouldn't be revealed

I watched David Copperfield on TV as a kid -- walking though the Great Wall of China, making the Statue of Liberty disappear, The Death Saw, the Bermuda Triangle boat.... I LOVED him. He WAS.SO.COOL. My mom got tickets for us to go to an "Intimate evening" with David Copperfield. HOW COOL huh?? If I had one of those life lists -- seeing him preform would have been on it. 

Talk about the scales dropping from my eyes. All the plants WERE SO OBVIOUS (plants are the people in the audience that "he's never met before") even the little kids -- who were by the way - adorable. And the little boy totally stole the show (poor kid, if D.C. ever reads this he'll lose his job) 

First, we had to wait an extra 20 minutes before David made his appearance - where we "got"  to watch a movie about ho many awards he's won. Now I understand the buildup factor and a bit of patting himself on the back, but then after he finally came out -- he did s couple little "mind" tricks and then there was a 10 minute "David Copperfield in pop culture" movie -- basically where everyone who's ever said his name on TV and movies was showcased. Gratuitous back patting. BUT WAIT!! There's more! In the middle of the show (ostensibly to take up time while they set up a big illusion) there was another movie about HOW.GREAT.DAVID.COPPERFIELD.IS.  -- granted he has started a foundation called Project Magic for kids in hospitals who need physical therapy. That is cool. Back to the show.

As I said the plants were obvious, his patter was to quick and contrived for believability. There was gratuitous sexual innuendo, including his "impregnate a woman without touching her trick" where he brings up an"audience member" young enough to be his DAUGHTER and has her grab his rear end during the performance (oh and he had the "husband" of another "audience" member fondle his "wife" similarly earlier in the show).

AND HE CURSED! Twice yelling out " J.C.!" and a command (like pass the ball to the nearest woman...)THAT put me off in a BIG WAY. I had an idea that there would be some innuendo -- I have seen him on TV, he always has pretty women, and tried to be s*xy. But the cursing was over the top, there were little KIDS there in his entourage! I was sitting next to an 11 year old boy (not mine) and I wanted clap my hands over his ears.

The amount of innuendo really put me off. He also made jokes about Lara Flynn Boyle and Mary Kate and Paris. Which were forced and stupid. And he only got sympathy laughter. OH! And he made a Snoop Dog reference -- and when the audience didn't laugh at THAT -- he complained that "You guys are really WHITE". 

The couple of big illusions were cool -- I don't know how he did most of them. The make 13 people disappear one was pretty obvious. But the "going to an island" In our case it was "Hawaii"  I have read that in other shows it has been Perth among other places. It was cool - because I don't know how he did it. But it was a hokey story and unbelievable.

I must say however -- My mother had a GREAT time, she loved it - and actually cried when the "father and daughter" were "reunited" in "Hawaii" .

For me -- I wish I had kept my illusions.

For another review of the Show.... Observations of a Misfit

Comments

[Noelani]

This is great info to know.

[HOW STATUE OF LIBERTY VANISHED:]

HOW STATUE OF LIBERTY VANISHED:
http://www.metacafe.com/watch/802242/how_statue_of_liberty_vanished/

[Polkinghorne Magic Productions]

Well I guess if everyone else is going to bad-mouth David Copperfield, I'll have to stick up for him a little. My name is Darren and I'm a magician. Now I assume that you all know David Copperfield is an adult orientated magician. Parents should not bring children, it's an alult show. You wouldn't let your child watch R-Rated movies would you? It is the parents job to raise that child not yours and not his. It is the parents job to teach their children right from wrong. And if the parent fell that David Copperfield was in the wrong I'm sure that they have informed their child that it is inapropriate. You can't censore everything. And so you all know there's definately more worse words then JESUS CHRIST. Jesus Christ is not a swear word. Your children will hear worse in the first 3 years they spend in school I promise you. Even my mom was surprised when she heard all the words i could say when I got mad at 8 years. David Copperfield is a great magician with a beautiful performance. Like for instance the slo-mo duck. I'll end this with one question. If you were world famous wouldn't you be surprized if someone didn't know who you were?

[janjanmom]

He came to our fair city and was quite miffed and hostile when the shopowners did not know who he was. He made sure to tell them.

One shop owner asked him if he and his traveling companion were on the Delta Queen ( a riverboat that brings tourists in) and he very rudely snapped, "NO! We are straight, thank you very much." She did not know what else to say, but giggled a little later when someone told her who he was (small town gossip travels so fast). Now the whole town knows his "orientation" is feeling a little sensitive.

[Domestic Goddess]

I am sooo not a fan of magic. I kinda think it is evil. David Blaine makes my skin crawl. And Copperfield? Big Dork, don't get me started.

[conjurer]

I could see you enjoying better modern magic, I for myself do not enjoy David Copperfeild. On the other side I really enjoy the beauty of the magic of Cyril Takayama, he performs entertaining and unique magic in public places and is very kind to its audience, always leave them with a smile or question in mind :-)