You Have Until Saturday to See ‘The Girl Who Handcuffed Houdini’
©Mark Shelby Perry 2018
You had us at Houdini. Throw in a séance, a water tank, and a disputed death, and we were completely hooked.
We were already longtime fans of artist, writer and producer Cynthia von Buhler’s work (The Speakeasy Dollhouse: The Bloody Beginning, The Brothers Booth, The Illuminati Ball), so when we heard that her latest immersive theater production, “The Girl Who Handcuffed Houdini” was being performed nearby, we had to investigate.
©Mark Shelby Perry 2018
Based on von Buhler’s noir comic book series and graphic novel of the same name, the theater piece explores the events leading up to the death of the famed illusionist Houdini, with various characters taking contradictory points of view.
When we entered the building, we were immediately transported to 1926, and given a “passport” which allowed us to follow one character throughout the evening as he or she interacted with the other actors. (Like other immersive theater pieces, guests who come back for another performance can see things that they have missed. In this case, they can follow a different character, seeing the story through new eyes.)
©Mark Shelby Perry 2018
We got to follow private detective Minky Woodcock (played by the truly fabulous burlesque star and actress Pearls Daily), who discovers secrets about the final days of Houdini’s death. Among other characters, we crossed paths with Houdini himself (Vincent Cinque); Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (Lord Kat), who believes that Houdini has supernatural powers; and Bess Houdini (Robyn Adele Anderson), who suspects that her husband is cheating on her. And also a live rabbit named Agatha Christie.
©Mark Shelby Perry 2018
The performance takes place in the historic townhouse which today includes the William Barnacle Tavern (formerly Sheib’s Place, a speakeasy where the New York City Council drank during Prohibition), along with the 199-seat Theatre 80 Saint Marks. The audience also follows the actors upstairs into apartments which have been transformed into a hotel room, a detective’s office and other settings.
We had a wonderful guide who helped the audience along in case anyone got lost. The set design, costumes, script and actors were quite mesmerizing, and when we left, we weren’t exactly sure what time period we were in.
From the graphic novel, “The Girl Who Handcuffed Houdini” ©Cynthia von Buhler 2018
We don’t want to give too much away, but we were truly, well, immersed in the characters, the locations and the mystery.
“The Girl Who Handcuffed Houdini” runs until this Saturday, November 10. Tickets can be purchased here. Costumes are encouraged but not mandatory (of course, we DID dress for the occasion). Comfortable shoes are suggested, since you’ll be walking around as well as climbing stairs.
Recent Stories
16-Year-Old Fatally Shot in the Face on Delancey Street Last Night
A 16-year-old boy was shot and killed on Delancey Street last night, near the on-ramp to the Williamsburg Bridge, cops said. The teenager was shot in the face near the corner of Suffolk at about 8:30pm. Right at the foot of Essex Crossing. First responders rushed the boy, who was unconscious, to Bellevue Hospital for […]
CBGB Shut Down 15 Years Ago on the Bowery
Fifteen years ago. This was the night – arguably – that the last breath of punk exhaled on the Bowery. When CBGB concluded its residence at 315 Bowery. And the block could not look any different today. The former venue became, and remains, the upscale John Varvatos boutique; while its old CB’s Gallery space is […]
MOSCOT Launches New Chromeo Collaboration with in-Store Performance
MOSCOT recently launched a new collaboration with popular electro-funk duo Chromeo. To celebrate, the eyewear company is hosting a live performance of the group at its Orchard Street flagship tonight. According to the press release, the new “luxurious capsule collection” features two limited edition frame styles co-designed by David “Dave 1” Macklovitch and Patrick “P-Thugg” […]
Charlie Bird Vet Eyes Division Street for ‘Parcelle Wine’ Spinoff
A veteran of Charlie Bird is spinning off the popular Hell’s Kitchen wine shop into a dedicated bar on the Lower East Side. Down on Division Street in the orbit of Forgtmenot, Dimes, and Kiki’s. Three-year-old Parcelle Wine, situated inside the Henry Hall apartment building near the Lincoln Tunnel, has plans for 135 Division. Specifically, to […]
New York Rangers Pop-up Honors Hockey Great Rod Gilbert with LES Pop-Up
The New York Rangers are headed to the Lower East Side to honor one of its legendary fallen players, Rod Gilbert. With support from the Hockey Hall of Fame, the Blueshirts are hosting a pop-up tribute to the forward at 2 Rivington Street. “As we drop everything for Hockey Week, we also want to lift […]
