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Houdini: A Musical
Houdini is an exploration of freedom and imprisonment. This cross genre musical unlocks time and reality―on the page, in a box, under water, onstage
This previously unpublished work offers readers the musical that was performed once in 1973 in Lenox, MA, with Christopher Walken playing Houdini in one of his earliest roles onstage. Houdini presents the spectacular life of world-renowned escape artist, Harry Houdini. Part biography, part fantasy, Houdini unlocks Rukeyser's worlds of illusion and reality as she leads us from Houdini's childhood in Appleton, Wisconsin (picking up pins with his eyelids) to his acts under water and onstage. We meet his wife Bess, his mother, Arthur Conan Doyle, and the poet's own Marco Bone, vehicle of voices, spirits, and songs. Rukeyser presents Houdini's shocking congressional testimony against spiritual mediums. She shows his great feats of escape, his complex relationships with his mother and his wife, and his ironic, untimely death.In addition to revealing the story of this country's tantalizing icon, Houdini offers a new understanding of Rukeyser's own work and life. Written at the height of the women's movement, the musical gives us Rukeyser's most famous lines, spoken by Houdini's wife "What would happen if one woman told the truth about her life? The world would split open." Houdini's response, "It has. Now I am going after all the pieces." With subtexts of desire, race, grief, and love, Houdini presents Rukeyser's gorgeous, reaching language and her brilliant observations of the human psyche. The musical will appeal to young readers as well as Houdini devotees, poetry fans, theater people, and escape artists everywhere.
This previously unpublished work offers readers the musical that was performed once in 1973 in Lenox, MA, with Christopher Walken playing Houdini in one of his earliest roles onstage. Houdini presents the spectacular life of world-renowned escape artist, Harry Houdini. Part biography, part fantasy, Houdini unlocks Rukeyser's worlds of illusion and reality as she leads us from Houdini's childhood in Appleton, Wisconsin (picking up pins with his eyelids) to his acts under water and onstage. We meet his wife Bess, his mother, Arthur Conan Doyle, and the poet's own Marco Bone, vehicle of voices, spirits, and songs. Rukeyser presents Houdini's shocking congressional testimony against spiritual mediums. She shows his great feats of escape, his complex relationships with his mother and his wife, and his ironic, untimely death.In addition to revealing the story of this country's tantalizing icon, Houdini offers a new understanding of Rukeyser's own work and life. Written at the height of the women's movement, the musical gives us Rukeyser's most famous lines, spoken by Houdini's wife "What would happen if one woman told the truth about her life? The world would split open." Houdini's response, "It has. Now I am going after all the pieces." With subtexts of desire, race, grief, and love, Houdini presents Rukeyser's gorgeous, reaching language and her brilliant observations of the human psyche. The musical will appeal to young readers as well as Houdini devotees, poetry fans, theater people, and escape artists everywhere.
160 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 2000
23 people want to read
About the author
Muriel Rukeyser
84 books155 followersMuriel Rukeyser was an American poet and political activist, best known for her poems about equality, feminism, social justice, and Judaism. Kenneth Rexroth said that she was the greatest poet of her "exact generation".
One of her most powerful pieces was a group of poems entitled The Book of the Dead (1938), documenting the details of the Hawk's Nest incident, an industrial disaster in which hundreds of miners died of silicosis.
Her poem "To be a Jew in the Twentieth Century" (1944), on the theme of Judaism as a gift, was adopted by the American Reform and Reconstructionist movements for their prayer books, something Rukeyser said "astonished" her, as she had remained distant from Judaism throughout her early life.
One of her most powerful pieces was a group of poems entitled The Book of the Dead (1938), documenting the details of the Hawk's Nest incident, an industrial disaster in which hundreds of miners died of silicosis.
Her poem "To be a Jew in the Twentieth Century" (1944), on the theme of Judaism as a gift, was adopted by the American Reform and Reconstructionist movements for their prayer books, something Rukeyser said "astonished" her, as she had remained distant from Judaism throughout her early life.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
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December 21, 2023At long last got ahold of this. Honestly a really peculiar play—the tactility of that last monologue … I’m not sure I was expecting the direct address—but I think the alignment of writing/art with magic is so so fascinating. And that an escape artist was an American national hero really does make you think. I like its resistance to biography even when it includes all the requisite parts, including the shockingly faithful congressional testimony in act 2. The long afterlife of documentary modernism. Also who knew Houdini was so interesting. Also it’s really inexplicable to me that this is a musical. Just crazy vibes, loved it even in my frustration
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 4, 2022
Something I would not normally read, but I enjoyed this love story of Houdini, Bess, locks, chains, life struggles. Rukeyser said "Freedom binds us" a thought-provoking statement.
November 19, 2014
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This previously unpublished verse-drama presents the life of world-renowned escape artist and illusionist, Harry Houdini. Part biography, part fantasy, the musical leads us from Houdini’s childhood in Appleton, Wisconsin (picking up pins with his eyelids) to his acts under water and his travels abroad. With pathos and playfulness, song and dance, Muriel Rukeyser introduces us to Houdini’s wife Bess and his mother Cecilia, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and the poet’s own Marco Bone. Throughout this remarkable work written over thirty years, Rukeyser invites readers to overcome whatever fears entrap us and — through the life of Harry Houdini — she shows us what it means to claim the physical, political, and societal freedom that is our birthright.
This previously unpublished verse-drama presents the life of world-renowned escape artist and illusionist, Harry Houdini. Part biography, part fantasy, the musical leads us from Houdini’s childhood in Appleton, Wisconsin (picking up pins with his eyelids) to his acts under water and his travels abroad. With pathos and playfulness, song and dance, Muriel Rukeyser introduces us to Houdini’s wife Bess and his mother Cecilia, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and the poet’s own Marco Bone. Throughout this remarkable work written over thirty years, Rukeyser invites readers to overcome whatever fears entrap us and — through the life of Harry Houdini — she shows us what it means to claim the physical, political, and societal freedom that is our birthright.
July 18, 2008
I have this book at home! It is full of history, ticks, and many different things about Houdini. Including his life outside of magic, and how he got started!
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews