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A fun, frantic, frolic with laughs a-plenty, and some impressive magic as a bonus. Summary
Rating
Good
M
Everyone knows who Harry Houdini is, and everyone knows – or thinks they know – something about him. In this fun, sparky new comedy, written and directed by Feargus Woods Dunlop, you might just learn something new (and it might even be based on fact).
Houdini’s Greatest Escape focuses on the famous escapologist and his beloved wife, Bess, as Houdini is framed for murder and for stealing the vicious Ma Barker’s money (along with her son’s glasses) from her safe in the local police station. The greatest escape of the title is essentially the story of how the Houdinis (along with a variety of other bizarre and rather wonderful characters) solve the riddle and clear their names. It’s not a complicated tale, and it doesn’t need to be – it’s far better to focus on the laughs and the magic, and there are plenty of those to be found.
Ben Higgins is Houdini, a cocky but loveable character, and he gives a great performance, even if he’s not quite the star of the show. There’s real magic taking place here, with tricks designed by Pete Firman, and the way Higgins charmingly and professionally works through them with a grin is remarkable.
Bess is played by Lydia Piechowiak, and she essentially saves the day for the man she loves. Piechowiak is sweet but tough, a perfect combination that gives the character a lot more depth.
Adam Elliot does a lot of hard work in Houdini’s Greatest Escape, playing more than ten characters, all with their own costumes, wigs, accents, and mannerisms. From a buff hunter with a keen nose to a corrupt copper, he races about the stage in his various hats causing giggles and belly laughs as he attempts to blast his way through the scenes. With so many characters to play, it’s inevitable that he’ll have to talk to himself at one point, and when he does (he’s actually playing four separate characters at once here) it’s one of the highlights of the play.
Kirsty Cox is Ma Barker, the fraudulent spiritualist Agatha, a weird clown/elephant mashup, PCs Cuthbert and Dibble, as well as others, and she can be terrifyingly murderous one minute and charmingly sweet the next, depending on who she’s playing.
Caitlin Abbott’s set is impressive, with lush velvet curtains and various bits of moving furniture that the cast clamber over and around, ensuring everything looks and feels real – despite the fantastical (and very funny) goings-on. Houdini’s Greatest Escape is a laugh-a-minute chaotic comedy that moves quickly and keeps you guessing – what more could you ask for?
Written and directed by: Feargus Woods Dunlop
Produced by: New Old Friends
Houdini’s Greatest Escape tours the UK into June. Further information can be found here.
