A Regular Little Houdini
Closed 1h 5m
A Regular Little Houdini
85%
85%
(11 Ratings)
Positive
82%
Mixed
18%
Negative
0%
Members say
Absorbing, Enchanting, Great acting, Entertaining, Intense

About the Show

59E59 presents this one-man play from Daniel LLewelyn-Williams about a Welsh dockworker's son at the turn of the last century, who, smitten by Harry Houdini, dreams of a life of magic.

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Critic Reviews (23)

BroadwayWorld
December 18th, 2017

"A unique and captivating one-man show...It combines splendid storytelling and illusion with real historical events...Daniel Llewelyn-Williams' has written 'A Regular Little Houdini' with meticulous detail and delivers a stunning performance...You'll be entranced and entertained by 'A Regular Little Houdini.' The theater's intimate performance space is the ideal venue for the show. See it while you can."
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Lighting & Sound America
December 18th, 2017

"A regular little spellbinder...Llewelyn-Williams is a king-size stage presence with leading-man looks and a knack for spinning a yarn...It may seem unlikely that a piece about the power of illusion, featuring several scenes of high action, would work so well in monologue form, but Llewelyn-Williams has a gift for the telling detail...For audiences of any age, it's a supremely entertaining tale that brings another time and place to vivid life."
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Talkin' Broadway
December 18th, 2017

"If only Daniel Llewelyn-Williams were able to tap more liberally into some of that razzle-dazzle, then perhaps his solo show would stir up more excitement than the occasional sparks that flare up briefly...Ultimately, 'A Regular Little Houdini' is less of a play than it is a piece of storytelling...It is sorely in need of some old-fashioned theater magic to make it feel like it is more than just an anecdote or a family story that has become a staple at the holiday get-together."
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TheaterScene.net
December 19th, 2017

“If there's a criticism to be leveled at ‘A Regular Little Houdini,’ it's that it could be longer. Llewelyn-Williams, director Joshua Richards, and composer Meg Cox (the only three people listed in the program) seem to have been on their own in crafting the show, which might explain its brevity. And, if that's true, it's too bad, because I imagine Llewelyn-Williams has a lot more to say about the people of Newport, South Wales.”
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Theatre is Easy
December 17th, 2017

“It's not easy to create an entire universe by yourself. Sharing that universe with others is exponentially more difficult...Llewelyn-Williams does just this. If you are looking for a flashy production, this is not it...If you want to see an extremely talented performer with attention to detail, the ability to switch characters excellently, and a penchant for magic, this is precisely your cup of tea...Llewelyn-Williams weaves in historical events, making it quite clear he has done his homework.”
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Stage Buddy
December 18th, 2017

"There’s a bewitching sense of history in the magical inner workings of 'A Regular Little Houdini'...Llewelyn-Williams has created an entrancing tale out of a historically dark time in the history of South Wales, with his charismatic one-man show...A son bringing an artistic statement to us through his grief? Precisely the kind of theatre and commitment to excellence that we yearn for here in New York City. Bravo, Mr. Llewelyn-Williams, bravo. Expert direction is provided by Joshua Richards."
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Front Mezz Junkies
December 19th, 2017

“The show itself feels unfocused in overarching theme and purpose. It takes a good amount of time to get to the first compelling tale of adventure, with a great deal of meandering. I found myself lost in the direction of this story at certain moments...Llewelyn-Williams sure can pull you in when the narrative is there, but work needs to be done to weave these components into a solid coming of age story. And more magic, much more magic is needed, literally and figuratively speaking.”
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W
December 18th, 2017

"The piece is written in evocative, local syntax...Each character has his own completely distinct voice and physical attitude. Transition is fluid...Llewelyn-Williams wisely takes his time, provoking our own imaginations...Director Josh Richards exercises finesse. Expressive gesture feels organic...A skilled, entertaining, and imaginative play, foreign in context, but humanistically familiar."
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