Evaluate: Houdini’s Best Escape, Hawth Theatre Crawley
M Everybody is aware of who Harry Houdini is, and everybody is aware of – or thinks they know – one thing about him. On this enjoyable, sparky new comedy, written and directed by Feargus Woods Dunlop, you may simply study one thing new (and it would even be primarily based on truth). Houdini’s Best Escape focuses on the well-known escapologist and his beloved spouse, Bess, as Houdini is framed for homicide and for stealing the vicious Ma Barker’s cash (alongside together with her son’s glasses) from her secure within the native police station. The best escape of the title is actually the story of how the…
Ranking
60
Good
A enjoyable, frantic, frolic with laughs a-plenty, and a few spectacular magic as a bonus.
M
Everybody is aware of who Harry Houdini is, and everybody is aware of – or thinks they know – one thing about him. On this enjoyable, sparky new comedy, written and directed by Feargus Woods Dunlop, you may simply study one thing new (and it would even be primarily based on truth).
Houdini’s Best Escape focuses on the well-known escapologist and his beloved spouse, Bess, as Houdini is framed for homicide and for stealing the vicious Ma Barker’s cash (alongside together with her son’s glasses) from her secure within the native police station. The best escape of the title is actually the story of how the Houdinis (together with a wide range of different weird and quite great characters) clear up the riddle and clear their names. It’s not a sophisticated story, and it doesn’t should be – it’s much better to deal with the laughs and the magic, and there are many these to be discovered.
Ben Higgins is Houdini, a cocky however loveable character, and he provides an ideal efficiency, even when he’s not fairly the star of the present. There’s actual magic happening right here, with tips designed by Pete Firman, and the best way Higgins charmingly and professionally works by them with a smile is exceptional.
Bess is performed by Lydia Piechowiak, and he or she primarily saves the day for the person she loves. Piechowiak is good however powerful, an ideal mixture that provides the character much more depth.
Adam Elliot does loads of laborious work in Houdini’s Best Escape, taking part in greater than ten characters, all with their very own costumes, wigs, accents, and mannerisms. From a buff hunter with a eager nostril to a corrupt copper, he races concerning the stage in his varied hats inflicting giggles and stomach laughs as he makes an attempt to blast his approach by the scenes. With so many characters to play, it’s inevitable that he’ll have to speak to himself at one level, and when he does (he’s really taking part in 4 separate characters without delay right here) it’s one of many highlights of the play.
Kirsty Cox is Ma Barker, the fraudulent spiritualist Agatha, a bizarre clown/elephant mashup, PCs Cuthbert and Dibble, in addition to others, and he or she could be terrifyingly murderous one minute and charmingly candy the subsequent, relying on who she’s taking part in.
Caitlin Abbott’s set is spectacular, with lush velvet curtains and varied bits of shifting furnishings that the solid clamber over and round, guaranteeing every little thing seems and feels actual – regardless of the fantastical (and really humorous) goings-on. Houdini’s Best Escape is a laugh-a-minute chaotic comedy that strikes shortly and retains you guessing – what extra might you ask for?
Written and directed by: Feargus Woods Dunlop Produced by: New Previous Mates
Houdini’s Best Escape excursions the UK into June. Additional data could be discovered right here.
