I went to see the show “A Regular Little Houdini” at Chapter. It is the story of a young boy, Alan, growing up in Newport in the 1900s. The boy is obsessed with the escapologist Harry Houdini and I was amazed to learn that Houdini himself had visited Newport twice in that period. My sisters and I were the only children in the audience but I did enjoy the show.
It is a one man show which means that one actor told the story by acting out the characters using different voices. It was amazing how the actor, Daniel Llewelyn-Williams, seemed to transform from one character to another just by changing his voice and the way that he stood. It was also very clever how he told the story on a stage without a set, using no props apart from a suitcase and a hat, minimal music and different lighting. I did find it a bit difficult to follow the story at times and I think this is a play for people a bit older than me (I am eight years old).
I learnt a lot about the history of Newport, including about the building of the transporter bridge and about the Newport Dock disaster of 1909. In the disaster 46 workers were buried and killed when a trench collapsed during the building of a lock in the docks. The show managed to convey how frightening this must have been and how awful for Alan whose father was trapped underground and died there. I felt really sad thinking that his dad is still trapped under the ground.
My favourite bit of the show was when Alan did the magic tricks that he practiced to try to be like his hero, Houdini. My favourite trick was when he pulled 5 or 6 cigarettes out of an empty hat one at a time. I think it would have been better if there had been more magic tricks in the show.
I would recommend this show to teenagers and adults because I think children would find it a bit difficult to follow and would like to see more magic. But I do think that this is a good and interesting way to learn about history.
Touring including Taliesin, Swansea, Feb 3; Theatr Hafren, Newtown, February 4; Torch Theatre, Milford Haven, Feb 7; Borough Theatre, Abergavenny, Feb 8; Aberystwyth Arts Centre, Feb 9; Ewenny Arts Festival, April 6 and venues in England, Australia and USA.
http://www.aregularlittlehoudini.co.uk/