The magic of theater and magic as theater are at the core of an entertaining, if insubstantial, biodrama, Death and Harry Houdini, created and performed by Chicago’s House Theatre, currently at the Adrienne Arsht Center in Miami.
Houdini, the renowned illusionist and escape artist of the early 20th century, became obsessed with the spirit world in the hope of pulling off his greatest trick — escaping death. Mortality issues are at the forefront of Nathan Allen’s take on Houdini, though they are upstaged by the numerous classic feats of magic that are salted throughout the play.
The script would have been helped by a more distinct viewpoint on Houdini, but even that would likely have taken a backseat to such deftly performed stunts as the quick-change metamorphosis illusion, a wince-inducing walk across a bed of broken bottle glass and the grand finale — an escape from being shackled and suspended upside down in a water torture tower.
Like last season’s The Sparrow, also by House Theatre at the Arsht’s Carnival Studio space, the company again shows itself to be a nimble, young troupe brimming with creativity. Although its strength is in its ensemble work, Death and Harry Houdini requires a star presence with very specific sleight-of-hand skills and underwater lung power.
It certainly has them in the charismatic and wily Dennis Watkins, who not only plays Houdini but is credited with designing the magic effects in the show. Many of the illusions do rely on specially rigged props that most actors could be taught to master, but during the evening Watkins also excels with playing card manipulation, that barefoot walk across glass shards and the swallowing of several razor blades which he ties together with thread in his mouth.
How does he do these things? Very well.
Understandably, the rest of the show cannot measure up to the magic, though the cast sings and plays various instruments quite capably. Carolyn Defrin is particularly endearing as Houdini’s wife, Bess, who accepts she will always be less important to her hubby than his sourpuss mother (Marika Mashburn), his magic and his joust with death. Shawn Pfautsch is appealing in the underwritten role of Harry’s little brother, Theo, and Johnny Arena is aptly nefarious as the proceeding’s Ringmaster.
Playwright Allen also directs the production, an act of choreography that keeps the cast in near-constant motion and has the audience often holding its breath. Death and Harry Houdini is the kind of show that requires technical perfection and gets it from House Theatre.
Nevertheless, it is hard to shake the impression that the play could have gone deeper with its exploration of Houdini and what drove him to risk so much so often. Then the theatrical experience might have been a satisfying drama with some magic tricks, instead of the other way around.
DEATH AND HARRY HOUDINI, Arsht Center Carnival Studio Theatre, 1300 Biscayne Blvd., Miami. Through Sunday, May 20. Tickets: $40-$50. Call: (305) 949-6722.