While the best Las Vegas headliners get standing ovations, illusionist David Copperfield has audiences roaring by the end of his show. That’s because he presents both a classic stage production in terms of showmanship and spectacle, and a progressive entertainment act that as of late has included animated aliens as well as the vehicles that brought them here. Copperfield is peerless in terms of magical accomplishments, being able to boast of having made the Statue of Liberty disappear and walking through the Great Wall of China. It seems as if the only illusion he isn’t capable of is making those monuments appear in his theater.
There’s as much wonder trying to comprehend how Copperfield conceives of tricks as there is in theorizing how he pulls them off. It takes as long as two years for some of his more intricate and dazzling illusions to go from “sketch to stage,” but Copperfield is a chronic dreamer with a nonstop performance schedule, so the work is continuous. He weaves a narrative about the nurturing influence of his father into his show while helping audience members to find the kids within themselves, and that’s a great feeling.
MGM Grand, 7 & 9:30 p.m. Sun.-Fri., 4, 7 & 9:30 p.m. Sat., starting at $71.31 plus tax and fee, $239 meet-and-greet VIP package available. 866.740.7711
