For more than 20 years, magician David Oliver dazzled audiences with his signature dove act, sleight-of-hand, and offbeat humor at comedy clubs, colleges, corporate events, and numerous television appearances.
After undergoing a double lung transplant due to hypersensitivity pneumonitis (or bird fancier’s lung) in 2013, however, he was forced to reimagine his show.
“I discovered that it’s not about the doves,’’ said Oliver, who lives in Weymouth. “The show is about how I can connect with the audience. I looked at it as a challenge, and I’ve grown as a performer from the experience.’’
Oliver started doing magic at age 6 and incorporated birds into his act seven years later, making them appear, disappear, and levitate in a cage that then vanishes. Although he wore a dust mask when cleaning the doves, Oliver believes he acquired the lung disease while exposed to their dander in cars, airplanes, hotels, and cruise ships.
After five years of declining health, Oliver suffered three cardiac arrests while on life support for six weeks at Massachusetts General Hospital. Side effects and postoperative complications kept him hospitalized for 5½ months.
Defying odds that he wouldn’t walk or perform again, Oliver headlined at the Magic Castle in Hollywood just six months after leaving the hospital. Since then, he has promoted organ donation in each performance of “The Magic of David Oliver’’ in an effort to pay forward his gift of life.
Oliver has also remained dedicated to mentoring youth as the 30-year director of the Boston Area Assembly #29 of the Society of Young Magicians, which meets at the Wellesley Community Center. In addition to learning tricks, Oliver says, the youngsters benefit from increased confidence, public speaking and problem-solving abilities, and lifelong friendships.
In fact, Oliver has firsthand knowledge of the tightknit magic community, which rallied around him during his illness and recovery.
“From the benefit shows around the world, to messages from David Copperfield to Uncle Bob who does magic shows at birthday parties,’’ he said, “it has been very heartwarming.’’
Oliver will perform his family-friendly shows Feb. 25 and April 15 at 4:15 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on both dates, at Wellesley Community Center, 219 Washington St. For tickets ($20/adults and $12/seniors and kids under 12) and more information, call 781-235-4172 or visit wellesleycommunitycenter.org.
Cindy Cantrell
Cindy Cantrell can be reached at cindycantrell20@gmail.com.
