An Intimate Evening Of Grand Illusion

David Copperfield, the master illusionist, is fascinated by dreams. It’s the subject of the two performances that showcase his fantastical illusions at Tilles Center on Wednesday.
Imagine if you could win the lottery, travel to your perfect place in the blink of an eye, own your dream car, or turn back the hands of time. It all becomes a reality through Copperfield’s magic.
True to its title, “Grand Illusion” is the logical and incredible evolution of this conjurer’s art. Copperfield’s goal in “Grand Illusion” is to take one’s dreams (and maybe a few nightmares) and make them become reality using his state-of-the-art wizardry.
“For magic to be relevant,” explains Copperfield, “it has to evolve so it keeps up with, or even surpasses, the best film and theater. I want to base my work on what people really dream about. Most of us don’t dream of pulling a rabbit out of a hat. But what affects people is realizing personal dreams, dreams almost everyone shares, that they thought were impossible. In the cinema the audience watches the characters’ dreams come true.”

Copperfield adds, “Grand Illusion was partly inspired by an unfulfilled wish of my grandfather’s that a lot of people share: winning the lottery and finally owning that one special thing you always dreamed of. We call it an ‘intimate’ evening of grand illusion partly because it’s interactive. In one of the pieces, for example, the audience discovers how to predict lottery numbers that will come up that night. They get to participate in illusions that blur the line between magic and reality.”
Copperfield delights audiences when he magically brings an ordinary necktie to life, only to find out the tie has a mind of its own!   The show also features the spectacular and death defying feat of David attempting to walk through the rotating blades of a giant industrial fan – and live to tell the tale – “Grand Illusion” on a massive scale.
Copperfield demonstrates the art of illusion with many amazing “tricks.” These include:
Killer: In an “unplugged” moment of pure sleight-of-hand, Copperfield performs “close-up” magic with a lethal black African scorpion. One of the most original, startling – and dangerous – effects ever, this unforgettable display of sleight-of-hand presents Copperfield with a true challenge to his will and dexterity, in a test not to be tried at home.
Squeezebox: Copperfield takes liposuction to a whole new level as the six-foot-one “King of Magic” gets squeezed into a bite-sized piece that could fit into a Prada shoebox.
The Lottery: Inspired by Copperfield’s grandfather’s unfilled dream, “The Lottery” is an astonishing epic of brain-busters. Copperfield involves the entire audience, and shares his secret technique for predicting the winning numbers of “The Lottery.”
Man Versus Steel: Copperfield walked through the Great Wall of China. This time, he’ll do it a little slower. Instead of walking, he floats through solid steel, proving that dreams can dissolve barriers.
Thirteen: One of Copperfield’s most heavily-requested creations, thirteen audience members chosen entirely at random vanish, leaving friends and family wondering whether to applaud or put their loved ones’ faces on milk cartons. Their fears are allayed as the thirteen reappear, instantly, in the most surprising of places.
“David Copperfield: An Intimate Evening Of Grand Illusion” is an event that reaches into the audiences’ minds and hearts and takes them on a feast of wish fulfillment. Displaying his off-the-cuff brand of humor, Copperfield breaks new ground in “Grand Illusion” and takes his art to a grand yet intimate, personal yet universal dimension for an evening of wonders.

David Copperfield
Wednesday, Sept. 30, 5:30 and 8:30 p.m. $76.50, $64.50, $49.50 and $24. Tickets available at (516) 299-3100 or (800)745-3000.or online at www.tillescenter.org or www.Ticketmaster.com. Tilles Center for the Performing Arts, C.W. Post Campus, Rte. 25A, Brookville.