Review: David Copperfield is Funny Too! But Too Tired?Inside MagicMagic News Updated Daily for the Professional Magician

David Copperfield

The Richmond Times-Dispatch review of David Copperfield’s show begins thusly:

If this magician-illusionist-trickster job doesn’t work out for David Copperfield, he could always take a run at stand-up. He has the comedy thing down pat: presence, timing and some pretty good lines.

We’ve always found Mr. Copperfield funny and wondered why he hadn’t received credit for his comedic talents.

You have to admit his patter while handling a black African scorpion is clever and funny. “I’m going to make him disappear and reappear . . . in Osama bin Laden’s pants . . . when we find him.”

The reviewer did note Mr. Copperfield is still using some blue material. We have no idea why he perceives a need to use the bathroom humor and wonder if he’ll still have it in the show when he hits Branson this summer.

The paper also noted one of the problems with performing 500 plus shows a year is exhaustion and the tendency to just “go through the motions.” We’ve noticed this phenomenon as well and feel more frustrated than sorry for Mr. Copperfield. While commendable, his efforts to perform non-stop can make the show seem less than special.

The reviewer noted:

“Still, it was a little disappointing to see the master illusionist appear to be going through the motions at times, as if, ‘Well, here’s a nice auditorium but hey, it’s only three-quarters full. Maybe I’ll hold back a little. Save the good stuff for next week.'”

The best effect? Not the vanish of ten audience members, not the lottery prediction, and not the vanish to Hawaii with an audience member (although this last effect received a standing ovation).

The best effect was Webster the moon walking duck. “Whether he was sticking Webster in a metal box, only to find him across stage in a wooden bucket — or doing a really funny ‘slow-motion’ bit with a doppelganger stuffed duck — Copperfield was on. He might have pulled this stunt a hundred times before, but he and the duck made a magical pair.”

Mr. Copperfield has to be happy with this review. He seems very responsive to the comments of reviewers and fans — unlike many performers both in and out of magic. It is tough to suggest, however, he should perform less to have more energy in each show.

Even if Mr. Copperfield were to cut back by 40 percent, he would still be performing more than 300 shows a year. The good news, the schedule allows more fans to see his shows. The bad news, he appears to be “going through the motions” in some show. We think we’d rather see Mr. Copperfield’s show than have others see his show with more energy because he skipped our town.

We’re selfish that way.