Houdini's Greatest Escape - Lichfield Garrick Review

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Wed 24 Apr 2024 - Sat 27 Apr 2024

A great deal is known about the world-famous American escapologist and entertainer Harry Houdini, so it was something of a challenge even for the accomplished New Old Friends theatre company to successfully produce a play about him. Fortunately, the best thing that can be said about Houdini's Greatest Escape, which is enjoying an extensive UK tour, is that they pull it off.

New Old Friends, who present the comedy play in association with Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, courageously sought their own challenge after a very successful run of their 'Crimes...' comedy series. And so it was that Houdini, who died in 1926, has been restored to the stage in this new play, excellently written and directed by Feargus Woods Dunlop.



Houdini's Greatest Escape, which I very much enjoyed at the Lichfield Garrick Theatre in Staffordshire, draws heavily upon Houdini's real-life crusade to debunk what he regarded as fake mediums. Harry, and his wife Bess, who very much receives equal billing in Feargus's story, are competing with prominent medium Agatha for top billing at a forthcoming Royal Gala for King Edward.

But matters take a very worrying turn when Harry and Bess find themselves falsely accused of stealing the contents of a safe during a performance at a police station, before then being framed for murdering a police officer. Not only that, but Houdini has also crossed swords with notorious mob boss Ma Barker and her two sons. The only thing for it is for Harry and Bess to go on the run, and use their expertise to evade both the law and mob justice.



All of this, and the multitude of characters who emerge along the way, are incredibly produced by just four actors. While the outstanding pair of Ben Higgins and Lydia Piechowiak (she briefly worked as a real-life magician's assistant!) have the relatively 'easy' task of just appearing as Harry and Bess, spare a thought for the equally superb Kirsty Cox and Adam Elliott who literally play everyone else in the play.

Kirsty is particularly impressive in the two key roles of medium Agatha and Ma Barker, while her other characters range from Nelly the elephant (you'll have to see it for yourself!) to PCs Cuthbert and Dibble. Yes, there is also a PC Grub! Meanwhile, poor over-worked Adam is variously playing characters including the Barker brothers, with particular emphasis on the nasty, murderous Fred, Houdini's brother Hardeen, the mysterious woodsman Hunter, and police chief Doyle.



The humour runs consistently through the play, even during a brilliantly produced scene where a handcuffed Bess has to escape from a locked police car that has plunged into a lake. There is also an hilarious scene where Bess endeavours to get the corrupt Chief Doyle drunk, in which Adam is outshone by his flapping hairpiece.

Magic, inevitably, also plays a prominent part during Houdini's Greatest Escape, with some impressive-looking tricks that clearly took some work to perfect - and no doubt owed much to the skills of magic consultant Pete Firman. But they are overshadowed by the genuinely Houdini-esque escape which provides a fitting climax. A new 'challenge' would be most welcome, thank you New Old Friends!




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