talkmagic.co.uk

The Stage, today, 14th. October, page 19, gives a glowing review to the revival by the Proteus Theatre Company, of Mary Swann's play--'Houdini.'
The Company is noted for its use of Physical Theatre, Circus, Music & Magic.

The man himself is played by Lee Garrett and is virtually alone on the stage except for the 'support of an occasional female assistant' and members of the audience.

***The Magic is coached and staged by Roy Davenport.***

It includes'many of 'Houdini's stunts', including the upside down straitjacket escape whilst suspended by the ankles; cards, mind reading, & illusions are also listed in the review.:as is the public clash with Conan Doyle and glimpses of Mr' H's complex life.
Lee Garret is much praised for his performance as the great man and other characters.

It plays 2 hours.

The tour is very short. It finishes, at the moment, on 31st. October; a sinsister date in the Houdini life story.
And seems to be in the Yorkshire area.

The Stage reviewer concludes with--' A worthy tribute to a show business legend'.

Allen Tipton

Shame it's not on longer and touring over a wider area! A few years ago I almost booked tickets for Houdini The Musical but the venture failed and performances were cancelled, this was supposed to be rich in magic and recreations of Houdini's classic effects.

It is presented by a small Theatre Company so I doubt if it is as 'spectacular' as the The Musical.
However quality rather than quantity might be the yardstick.

NOTE: It is a revival so perhaps Proteus trots it out now and again, depending on -if they have an actor capable of creating & sustaining such a big, multi task role.
The author directs the production.

Allen Tipton

Courtesy of www.magicweek.co.uk

"Escapologist, magician, secret agent, lover, husband, devoted son, enemy of the establishment - Harry Houdini was all of these things. In this stunning one-man show, Lee Garrett becomes the enigma that is Harry Houdini to tell the remarkable story of this self-made man and the myths that have turned him into a legend. Through a fusion of physical performance, circus, film, music and stage magic, Proteus Theatre Company bring his story to life." Wednesday 20th October at 8pm at the West End Centre, Queens Road, Aldershot, Hampshire GU11 3JD (Map) www.westendcentre.co.uk.

There's a link to a trailer of the play showing H in action and the Proteus site says 'Touring Nationally' until October 31st.

Remaining Tour Dates are:

20-Oct-10 8:00pm The West End Centre 48 Queens Rd, Aldershot, Hampshire GU11 3JD 01252 330040 or www3.hants.gov.uk
21-Oct-10 7.30pm Sparsholt Memorial Hall Woodman Lane, Sparsholt, Winchester, SO21 2NR 01962 776315 or available from Sparsholt Village Post Offoce

22-Oct-10 7:30pm Winchester Discovery Centre Jewry Street, Winchester, SO23 8SB 01962 873603

23-Oct-10 7:30pm Pamber Heath Memorial Hall Pamber Heath Road, Pamber Heath, Tadley, Hants. RG26 3TQ 0118 9700754

24-Oct-10 7:30pm The Underground Theatre Central Library, Grove Road, Eastbourne, BN21 4TL 01323 737677 www.undergroundtheatre.org.uk

27-Oct-10 7.30pm King Edwards Village Hall The Village, West Tytherley, SP5 01794 342130

28-Oct-10 7:30pm The Met Market Street, Bury BL9 0BW 0161 7612216 www.themet.biz

29-Oct-10 8:00pm Square Chapel Centre for the Arts 10 Square Road, Halifax, West Yorkshire HX1 1QG 01422 349 422 ww.squarechapel.co.uk

30-Oct-10 7:45pm Pavilion Arts Centre Buxton Opera House, Water Street, Buxton, SK17 6XN 0845 127 2190 ww.buxtonoperahouse.org.uk

31-Oct-10 7:30pm The Point Leigh Road, Eastleigh, Hampshire, S050 9DE 023 8065 2333 www.thepointeastleigh.co.uk

You are a clever man dear Mandrake. On Google there was only Yorkshire.
They must have known you were on their trail and expanded the details
Why couldn't you have asked them to include Nottingham in their tour??

Allen Tipton[/i]

I freely confess I e-mailed Proteus and asked them for the dates! However instead of telling me they pointed out the Touring link, then I clicked 'houdini' and I followed tour dates to get the details. Sadly the nearest to Nottingham was Acorn Theatre, Queen Street, Worksop, Notts, on 15th October and then Keyworth Village Hall, Elm Avenue, Keyworth, Notts, on Octobber 16th

I went to see this in Bury, and thought it was very good. The magic was quite basic but the kids in the audience enjoyed it, and as a one man show, it was interesting.

I guess the people who will read this post would find the magic very simplistic and the story would be stuff you already know, but I enjoyed it.

'But I ENJOYED it'

That says it ALL.
Guys--try to go to any Magic Show be it play or magic performance only and JUST TRY TO SIMPLY--ENJOY IT.

FORGET--'Oh I do that in such & such a way' 'He should have used such & such a move' . or even 'How does he do that?' etc. etc. etc.
And all your (often unqualified)crits. and snipings; especially within earshot of the Public.

THINK BACK to your first sight of Magic.
Just enjoy it.

Allen Tipton