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Houdini
3.5 Stars out of 5
Stage 2, The Backstage Theatre, 10330 84 Ave.
There’s something endearing about watching a traditional magic show at the Fringe.
If you’re old enough, you’ll remember seeing many of the same tricks from Winnipeg performer Brett Oddly’s homage to legendary magician Harry Houdini on ‘60s and ‘70s talk shows.
If you’re even older you bought tickets to see them live. As Oddly notes, it’s a testament to Houdini’s impressive publicity skills that he still looms large in our collective consciousness. We don’t really remember the jobbing magicians pulling out the illusions and escapes on Carson, but Houdini? He’s still the MAN.
In Houdini, Oddly brings some historical context to Houdini’s life and work, basing the show loosely around a Canadian tour the magician undertook in the early part of the 20th century. The facts are fun, but the illusions and escapes are where Oddly really cooks. He starts off with a few card tricks and works his way up; I don’t want to give any of it away, but rest assured that you’ll be both entertained and amazed.
The pièce de résistance is a straight jacket escape, one you’ve likely seen before. If you haven’t, Oddly will give you at least one hint on how he’ll manage to do it. Hopefully you’ll wince a little in sympathy as he puts parts of his body at risk for our amusement.