Calgary magicians to honour one of the greatest

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Calgary magicians are honouring Harry Houdini on the 100th anniversary of his death.

Houdini, who was known as an escape artist, illusionist and stunt performer, died on Oct. 31, 1926, at the age of 52 from peritonitis, caused by a ruptured abdomen.

More than a dozen members of Calgary’s Magic Circle will present an evening of sleight of hand, illusions, and daring escapes on Oct. 23 at the GRAND theatre in his honour.

Simon Mallett, the producer of this Masters of Magic show, says, “Even a century after his death, Harry Houdini is still considered the most famous magician of all time. He has influenced every magician who has followed in some way, so the chance for Calgary’s finest magicians to share their talents in his honour makes for a wonderful tribute and an incredible magic show.”

The evening’s centrepiece is the Water Cell Escape, performed by Dayle Krall, who is known in magic circles as the Houdini Girl. Shackled, inverted and submerged, with only seconds of air and no margin for error, Krall takes on the feat most closely tied to Houdini’s name.

Houdini introduced this escape in Berlin in 1912. He was suspended upside down in a locked steel and glass cabinet, overflowing with water. He gave himself only three minutes to escape.

Krall is the only woman in the world currently performing Houdini’s Water Cell Escape in the original upside-down position. Her repertoire also includes the Milk Can, the canvas straightjacket and The Cube.

Krall is joined in this Houdini tribute by such Calgary magicians as Paul Alberstat, Michael Berends, James Jordan, Ryan Pilling, Malcolm Russell, Richard Sherry, Yeats Wong and Amilee Hagon.

Because of the daring nature of some of the acts, the show is not recommended for persons younger than 14. Several VIP seats are available, and those people will be treated to an intimate, close-up performance after the main show.