Houdini: the man and the magic

Directed by the Segal's Artistic and Executive Director, Bryna Wasserman, written by Snowdon playwright Ben Gonsher, set to music and lyrics by Cote- St. Luc resident Elan Kunin, and performed by a six-member band of local musicians, this production is as Montreal as it gets. It's perhaps the reason why the Montreal Highlights Festival (now in its 9th year) has chosen to showcase the production as part of its coveted lineup.

"In the early 1900's, Harry Houdini was one of the highest paid Vaudevillian acts of his time," explains the man responsible for the music and lyrics. "Think the Brad Pitt of his time." Kunin explains why Houdini's story transcends time and why it's still so relevant today. "Harry came from extremely humble means and became a success story. At its essence, it's a story of hope because Houdini represented escapism from that era's grim reality –a time after World War I and severe depression, not to mention anti-Semitism." Bryna Wasserman had directed "The Great Houdini", a Yiddish musical in 2000, for which Elan Kunin was in the starring role, but the goal was to always adapt it for a wider audience; which meant a brand new version, in English this time. "When I came on board, I wrote a completely different and much more expanded version," explains playwright Ben Gonshor, who grew up in Snowdon. "For a writer, it doesn't get any better than having Harry Houdini as a subject matter. There was so much drama to draw from; the man risked his life every night to entertain and be the best."

Wasserman, Gonshor and Kunin's collaboration benefited from the fact that they have known and worked with each other for years. "I'm having a massive theatre production performed on the same stage where I grew up performing in Yiddish productions," says Gonshor. "West End residents should be proud of the fact that quality local theatre is being produced in their own backyards; this isn't a Toronto production or a Broadway show touring the country; it's a locally written, directed, produced and performed show. People should support it and come out. "At the end of it all however, Houdini is a musical and is meant as entertainment and everyone involved in the production hopes that people embrace it because they leave the show having gotten their money's worth. "I had a fantastic time researching his life and writing the lyrics for this musical and I really hope that people just enjoy themselves. Life is hard enough as it is, so enjoy it when you can. I'm pretty sure Houdini would have said the exact same thing," Kunin says with a chuckle.

While there's no way of knowing what exactly Houdini would have said about all this, there's no doubt the Vaudevillian showman and star self-promoter would have reveled in the attention and newly ignited interest in his life. The Leonor and Alvin Segal Theatre, The Montreal Highlights Festival and Ernst & Young present Houdini from February 10 - March 2. For tickets and/or information, you can call the Box Office at 514-739-7944 or Admission at 514-790-1245. You can also log on to: www.segalcentre.org. The Segal Centre for Performing Arts at the Saidye is located at 5170 Cote Ste. Catherine Rd.