Houdini (play)
''Houdini'' is a 2013 stage play about the life of the magician and escapologist Harry Houdini and his brother Theo Houdini, played by BAFTA winner Stuart Brennan, co-starring with Harry's then-wife Evanna Lynch and Jamie Nichols as Harry Houdini. It premiered in a UK & Ireland tour in September 2013, produced by Theatre Giant and directed by Peter Snee. Story The play follows the brothers Theo and Harry Houdini, as they set out on the road to fame and fortune as the magicians 'The Brothers Houdini'. The play opens at Coney Island, where Harry meets and quickly marries Bess. When Theo makes a mistake at a big performance, Harry is offered the opportunity to do a solo show. As Theo and Harry part ways, the shadow of one brother will consume the other and the play charts the success and failures, the love, drama, pain and tragedy of the two men. Illusions The play features a number of illusions throughout, including: * The Chinese Water Torture Cell * The Bullet Catch (pe ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Stuart Brennan
Stuart Brennan (born 8 October 1982) is a BAFTA-winning British actor, playwright, producer and director. He is an advocate for independent film, helping set up and establish film festivals across the world. Early life and education He was born on 8 October 1982 in Barnstaple, North Devon, to parents Nigel and Lorraine Brennan and has five brothers — Rob, Ollie, Clive, Leo and Kit. Brennan attended Pilton Infants School, Pilton Bluecoats School, Pilton Community College, North Devon College then went on to study drama at the University of Winchester (formerly known as King Alfreds College). Brennan was awarded a WBC Championship belt and made an honorary World Champion by the World Boxing Council in recognition of the five years he spent training for his portrayal of Howard Winstone in ''Risen'', a part for which he also had to lose . In 2011, he was awarded a BAFTA Wales for Best Actor for the portrayal. Writer – theatre Brennan's graduation stage theatre per ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Escapologist
Escapology is the practice of escaping from restraints or other traps. Escapologists (also classified as escape artists) escape from handcuffs, straitjackets, cages, coffins, steel boxes, barrels, bags, burning buildings, fish-tanks, and other perils, often in combination. History The art of escaping from restraints and confined spaces has been a skill employed by performers for a very long time. It was not originally displayed as an overt act in itself but was instead used secretly to create illusions such as a disappearance or transmutation. In the 1860s, the Davenport Brothers, who were skilled at releasing themselves from rope ties, used the art to convey the impression they were restrained while they created spirit phenomena. Other illusionists, including John Nevil Maskelyne, worked out how the Davenports did their act and re-created the tricks to debunk the brothers' claims of psychic power. However, the re-creations did not involve overt escape, merely a replicatio ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Harry Houdini
Harry Houdini (, born Erik Weisz; March 24, 1874 – October 31, 1926) was a Hungarian-American escape artist, magic man, and stunt performer, noted for his escape acts. His pseudonym is a reference to his spiritual master, French magician Robert-Houdin (1805–1871). He first attracted notice in vaudeville in the United States and then as "Harry 'Handcuff' Houdini" on a tour of Europe, where he challenged police forces to keep him locked up. Soon he extended his repertoire to include chains, ropes slung from skyscrapers, straitjackets under water, and having to escape from and hold his breath inside a sealed milk can with water in it. In 1904, thousands watched as he tried to escape from special handcuffs commissioned by London's ''Daily Mirror'', keeping them in suspense for an hour. Another stunt saw him buried alive and only just able to claw himself to the surface, emerging in a state of near-breakdown. While many suspected that these escapes were faked, Houdini prese ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Theodore Hardeen
Theodore "Dash" Hardeen (born Ferenc Dezső Weisz; March 4, 1876 – June 12, 1945) was a Hungarian-American magician and escape artist who was the younger brother of Harry Houdini. Hardeen, who usually billed himself as the "brother of Houdini", was the founder of the Magician's Guild. Hardeen was the first magician to conceive escaping from a straitjacket in full view of the audience, rather than behind a curtain. Early life Hardeen was born as "Ferenc Dezső Weisz" (or "Ferencz Dezső Weisz") in Budapest, Austria-Hungary, and went by the name "Theodore Weiss" when he and his family were living in Appleton, Wisconsin. He was known as "Deshi" and later "Dash" by his parents. In 1893, Hardeen performed with Houdini at Coney Island as "The Brothers Houdini". While he and Harry were there, Harry met and married Wilhelmina Beatrice "Bess" Rahner. Magical career Will Goldston, English stage magician and editor of the ''Magician Annual'', wrote that: After his brother' ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Evanna Lynch
Evanna Patricia Lynch (born 16 August 1991) is an Irish actress and activist. She is best known for portraying Luna Lovegood in the Harry Potter (film series), ''Harry Potter'' film series. Born in County Louth, Ireland, Lynch made her film debut in ''Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (film), Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix'' (2007), reprising her role in successive sequels to critical praise, concluding with ''Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2'' (2011) and series parody ''A Very Potter Senior Year'' (2012). Lynch appeared in ''G.B.F. (film), G.B.F.'' (2013), which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival to positive reviews. She made her stage debut in ''Houdini (play), Houdini'' as Bess Houdini, which toured the UK in 2013. Lynch starred in the indie drama ''My Name Is Emily'', which premiered at the 2015 Galway Film Fleadh to critical acclaim. In 2017, Lynch starred in revival of ''Disco Pigs'' at the Trafalgar Theatre in London. In 2018, she com ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Stoke Repertory Theatre
Stoke-on-Trent Repertory Theatre is a theatre in Stoke-on-Trent, England. It opened in 1997. The Stoke Repertory Theatre Players present a season of plays each year. The theatre is also a venue for local dance, drama and musical theatre companies. History Stoke Repertory Theatre Players A group of amateur actors and actresses in Stoke-on-Trent met in 1920 to stage the play '' Caste'' by T. W. Robertson, which they performed in February 1921 at the Empire Theatre, Longton. They later created a theatre, converted from a mission church in Beresford Street in Shelton; it opened in March 1933 with the play ''Lean Harvest'' by Ronald Jeans. They subsequently presented a season of varied plays each year. The theatre in Beresford Street closed in May 1997."The Repertory Players 1920–2017". ''Rep at 20''. Stoke-on-Trent Repertory Theatre. (Brochure for 2017–2018) New theatre In 1992 the Stoke Repertory Theatre Players were on the verge of purchasing the former Empire Theatre in L ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Andrew Van Buren
Andrew Van Buren is a British multi skilled performer, illusionist, plate spinner and showman who specialises in presenting large-scale illusions, plate spinning routines, magic, juggling and circus style skills in all type of performance venues. Biography Andrew Van Buren spent his childhood touring the world with his parents' Fred Van Buren and Greta's magic and illusion show. Having been taken on stage for the first time at just six weeks old, he learned his trade growing up in theatres and circus, on-stage, off-stage and backstage as well as gaining experience in fairgrounds and on multiple television and film sets. During this time he teamed up with a Hungarian State Circus artiste who taught him the art of trick cycling, which led to his performing unicycling, juggling and plate spinning with real breakable plates. Andrew now tours his own shows and specialises in theatre, corporate and cabaret settings, cruise liners, television and outdoor events. Other than in a perfor ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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2013 Plays
Thirteen or 13 may refer to: * 13 (number), the natural number following 12 and preceding 14 * One of the years 13 BC, AD 13, 1913, 2013 Music * 13AD (band), an Indian classic and hard rock band Albums * ''13'' (Black Sabbath album), 2013 * ''13'' (Blur album), 1999 * ''13'' (Borgeous album), 2016 * ''13'' (Brian Setzer album), 2006 * ''13'' (Die Ärzte album), 1998 * ''13'' (The Doors album), 1970 * ''13'' (Havoc album), 2013 * ''13'' (HLAH album), 1993 * ''13'' (Indochine album), 2017 * ''13'' (Marta Savić album), 2011 * ''13'' (Norman Westberg album), 2015 * ''13'' (Ozark Mountain Daredevils album), 1997 * ''13'' (Six Feet Under album), 2005 * ''13'' (Suicidal Tendencies album), 2013 * ''13'' (Solace album), 2003 * ''13'' (Second Coming album), 2003 * ''13'' (Ces Cru EP), 2012 * ''13'' (Denzel Curry EP), 2017 * ''Thirteen'' (CJ & The Satellites album), 2007 * ''Thirteen'' (Emmylou Harris album), 1986 * ''Thirteen'' (Harem Scarem album), 2014 * ''Thirt ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Cultural Depictions Of Harry Houdini
Culture () is an umbrella term which encompasses the social behavior, institutions, and norms found in human societies, as well as the knowledge, beliefs, arts, laws, customs, capabilities, and habits of the individuals in these groups.Tylor, Edward. (1871). Primitive Culture. Vol 1. New York: J.P. Putnam's Son Culture is often originated from or attributed to a specific region or location. Humans acquire culture through the learning processes of enculturation and socialization, which is shown by the diversity of cultures across societies. A cultural norm codifies acceptable conduct in society; it serves as a guideline for behavior, dress, language, and demeanor in a situation, which serves as a template for expectations in a social group. Accepting only a monoculture in a social group can bear risks, just as a single species can wither in the face of environmental change, for lack of functional responses to the change. Thus in military culture, valor is counted a typica ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |