How does he do it? Secrets of David Copperfield’s disappearing trick revealed

A lawsuit against US magician David Copperfield has revealed the secrets behind one of his most famous illusions.

A 58-year-old British man is suing Copperfield over injuries he claims he sustained at a 2013 show while participating in the Lucky 13 illusion, in which members of the audience are made to “disappear”.

The first witness called to the Nevada court hearing, Chris Kenner, the executive producer of the show, answered lawyers’ questions about the act, in which audience members are made to “vanish” on stage before reappearing at he back of the MGM Grand theatre.

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During his six-hour testimony, Kenner explained that volunteers are “quickly ushered through hidden passageways during the illusion dubbed ‘the runaround’” to reach the “reappearance” point, CBS reports.

The route takes participants “through dark curtains, down unfamiliar passageways, around corners, outdoors, indoors and through an MGM Grand resort kitchen”, says The Guardian.

Brit Gavin Cox says he slipped and fell while being hurried along the route after being chosen from the audience of Copperfield’s show in Las Vegas. Copperfield denies negligence.

The illusionist, real name David Kotkin, is due to take the stand himself for testimony which is likely to reveal further details of how the illusion works.

However, some aspects of the trick remain unexplained - and they are likely to remain that way. “District Judge Mark Denton has ordered that some of Copperfield’s testimony may be closed to observers in order to protect the trade secrets of other illusions,” the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports.