BWW Reviews: David Copperfield's Grand Illusions Have A Grand Las Vegas Home

"Grand Illusionist" David Copperfield has become a Las Vegas staple, appearing in his home at the MGM Grand's Hollywood Theatre more than 40 weeks each year. Unlike venues in so many other cities, this one is relatively intimate, seating 740 or so people. The audience is thisclose to the stage so it is important that the performer - especially when the performer is a magician or illusionist - appear transparent.

Making his entrance on a custom Harley, Copperfield begins by talking to the audience about his background, the genesis of his desire to "live the impossible." (It all started when he was six years old, in Metuchen, NJ and went to his friend Marty Katz's birthday party where he became entranced with a floating balloon and began to consider the possibilities.) During the show he uses vintage film of his beloved parents, talks a great deal about his cherished grandfather's dream to own a 1948 Lincoln convertible and, in other ways, makes the show a very personal one. It's a nice touch that makes the performer seem approachable and very human.

Audience participation is a part of the show but it's very important to note that audience members are never called upon to do anything that might prove embarrassing. They clearly have fun.

Telling you what happens would spoil the surprise of this show you should see if you get the opportunity. But it's surely OK to tell you there's a duck, an ET-like alien, vanishing, Jimmy Buffett-like audience involvement with batting oversized balls, and a lot more.

As with any entertainment of this nature (or, for example, with films like The Hobbit, Her, The Hunger Games), audience response depends upon the individual audience member's willingness to suspend disbelief and not question every little move. I, for one, enjoy being stymied. Of course I wonder how Copperfield did some of what he did but just the fact that he did it and entertained while so doing is quite enough.

We had a grand time at his show and look forward to seeing him again. You should go.

David Copperfield performs at 7 and 9:30 pm nightly. You can see a performance schedule and purchase tickets here: http://mgmgrand.com/entertainment/david-copperfield.aspx

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