A ‘Global Encounter’

Young Chang

David Copperfield’s life seems to have taken a magical turn, and this

is no illusion.

As a quiet boy named David Kotkin, the New Jersey native dabbled in

ventriloquism. Today, Copperfield, 44, is known for walking through the

Great Wall of China, levitating a Ferrari, vanishing a seven-ton jet (not

to mention the Statue of Liberty), entering and escaping the Bermuda

Triangle, levitating across the Grand Canyon and, frequently, flying

without the benefit of a plane.

Despite years of performing on stages around the world with his

touring magic show, on Broadway and on popular television specials, the

internationally renowned illusionist still has more to do -- more

performances and more new illusions.

In fact, he’s so busy, that we caught up with him via e-mail for this

interview.

This week, the illusionist has been wowing local audiences at the

Orange County Performing Arts Center with his show, “Global Encounter.”

Q: Have you performed at the Orange County Performing Arts Center

before?

A: Yes, many times. It is one of the finest in the nation. People in

Orange County should be very proud of it!

Q: What is your favorite illusion, and why?

A: I would definitely have to say flying. It has become my signature

piece and took me over seven years to create.

Q: Is there an illusion you have yet to master?

A: I have always wanted to put a woman’s face on Mt. Rushmore,

straighten the Leaning Tower of Pisa and vanish the moon, so I had better

get to work! I am also developing a very dangerous illusion, which will

have me walk into a fire-filled, blazing tornado and come out alive.

Q: How many times have you been asked to reveal your secrets? Have you

ever told anyone how you do your illusions?

A: More times then I can count! Everyone that works for and those at

the venues around the world, they all sign a “secrecy agreement” and none

of these individuals turned out to be the masked magician!

Q: With specials showing magic behind the scenes, such as Fox

network’s masked magician, is it getting harder to make audiences believe

in illusions?

A: I am fortunate to have the resources to have many methods to do

each of my illusions. If someone makes a guess that is in the correct

ballpark as to how I perform my magic, I keep the illusion but change the

method. So, to me, the simplistic guesses in these TV shows and books

that aim to expose are like blanks fired from a gun.

But there are thousands of magicians with families who are less

fortunate. They are hard-working entertainers who cannot afford to have

multiple methods for their illusions. The producers at Fox are putting

these people out of work and affecting their families.

Q: Who are your magical influences?

A: Actually, the influences in my show have come from the arts outside

of magic. Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly -- those dance greats have had a big

influence. Also directors like Orson Welles and Francis Ford Coppola have

been an influence.

Q: How do you compare what you do with the illusions once done by

Harry Houdini?

A: Houdini was much more a great escape artist than a great magician.

However, what Houdini was really great at was self-promotion.

Q: Are there any acts you will just never do again?

A: I stay away from lions and tigers and bears -- way too messy!

Q: Have you ever had a performance mishap?

A: A couple of times. Once, in Lake Tahoe, I had this illusion with a

red Ferrari. I was levitating it to above my head. Then, halfway up, it

just stopped and came crashing to the stage floor. Fortunately, I hadn’t

gotten under it yet. Unfortunately, it was the final illusion of the

evening, so I had nothing to move on to. The curtain closed, and that was

it for the night.

Q: Do you still perform close-up magic?

A: Very much so. I would say my show is usually an even mix between

the close-up magic and the grand illusions. I think the audiences really

appreciate a balanced mix.

Q: What advice would you give someone who is interested in magic as a

career?

A: Never give up on your dreams. Never consider anything impossible.

FYI

WHAT: David Copperfield’s “Global Encounter”

WHEN: Noon, 3, 6 and 9 p.m. Saturday

WHERE: The Orange County Performing Arts Center, 600 Town Center

Drive, Costa Mesa

COST: $30-$50

CALL: (714) 755-0236