Jackman As Houdini?- Page 2

[Ed_Mottershead]

Posted: 11/23/08 at 2:52pm

I don't know how many posters have seen photographs of the real Houdini, but it should be remembered that his acts were performed with as little as possible clothing. SOOOOO, my question is, artistic merits aside, who would you rather see naked, Hugh Jackman or Michael Cerveris?

[Fan2]

Posted: 11/24/08 at 11:55pm

Hugh was interviewed on CBS local news tonight in conjunction with the premiere of "Australia" at the Ziegfeld tonight, and at the end of the interview the reporter said that Hugh told her he was coming back to Broadway in 2010.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 11/25/08 at 10:03am

Is Houdini's height necessary to telling his story? Was he famous for being short? How tall was the actor who played him in Ragtime? I don't remember it being a huge issue then.

[Fan2]

Posted: 11/25/08 at 10:22am

Roger Friedman of Fox News reports from the "Australia" premiere last night at the Ziegfeld on Hugh's return:

Jackman: Houdini on Broadway

Harry Houdini—magician, spy, object of fascination—is coming to Broadway.

Last night at 20th Century Fox’s swellicious premiere of “Australia” at the Plaza Hotel, the talk was of the movie’s Hugh Jackman starring in the Broadway musical of Houdini’s life.

Danny Elfman, once the leader of pop group Oingo Boingo and now often a composer of movie scores, is writing the music. Kurt Andersen, a former magazine editor and current radio host here in New York, is said to be working on the script although no one’s seen anything yet.

The main thing is that Hugh is already working on magic routines. The show, when it materializes, would include Jackman replicating big Houdini tricks on stage. Hugh has already played a magician in the movie, “The Prestige,” so he’s up for it. Magician extraordinaire Ricky Jay is said to be giving him advice. At some point the producers may reach out to David Blaine and to Cirque du Soleil for help.



Jackman as Houdini

[PRFRMR20]

Posted: 11/25/08 at 10:24am

I do believe it is important, if not necessary for telling the story. First of all, he was known for being a short, stocky, athletic build. That's who we was and in a biographical piece shouldn't it reflect his physical attributes especially those he was known for? Could an Abraham Lincoln musical be done without a tall Abe? NO Neither should Houdini be done without a short stocky Houdini.

Also, more importantly, as I think I mentioned a little earlier. Not only was he famous/known for being short, but it was his height that he used as an aid for the majority of his magic and escapes. Think about how all of the magicians' assistants today are tiny width wise, since it was Houdini who was more inclined to "go in the box" someone of Jackman's stature couldn't have been able to maneuver the way Houdini could.

Lastly, though I don't know how short Jim Corti is (original Houdini in Ragtime), I do know he is of shorter stature and is more stocky and has that ethnic look. See below, he is farthest on the left (a little aged since ragtime).


And the only reason for there being an issue now is because they have supposedly cast someone to play a man in a biographical show that doesn't really look like him (ethnic and stature wise, both important to Houdini's life). This wasn't an issue for Ragtime because they cast someone who looked pretty close to the real Houdini.


Updated On: 11/25/08 at 10:24 AM

[H.Higgins]

Posted: 11/25/08 at 10:34am

-- "I said that Houdini was Western European (From Hungary, but has that Polish, Russian, German... look) vs. Jackman who is from Australia but has a more Eastern European look (England, Whales...) which makes sense because Australia was inhabited by the British and by the Eastern European civilization. "


Seriously? Since when are England and Wales EASTERN European nations? That would be WESTERN Europe. And the Hungary from which Houdini hailed is in EASTERN Europe. And Australia was a colony of the British Empire, a WESTERN civilization. Had it been Eastern, as you say, the Australians would be drinking Vodka and speaking in Slavic dialects.

Feel free to argue whether Jackman should play Houdini or not, but the location of European countries isn't so much arguable. =)
Updated On: 11/25/08 at 10:34 AM

[Cape Twirl of Doom]

Posted: 11/25/08 at 11:04am

I do know that Australia isn't in Eastern Europe. I said that Houdini was Western European (From Hungary, but has that Polish, Russian, German... look) vs. Jackman who is from Australia but has a more Eastern European look (England, Whales...) which makes sense because Australia was inhabited by the British and by the Eastern European civilization.

Wow. Do you also think Greenland is in the South & Chile is in the North?

(And it's Wales.)

[PRFRMR20]

Posted: 11/25/08 at 12:19pm

correct mistakes... thank you. Writing a lot very quickly and just once I messed up the first time it stuck.

How about actually talking about the subject at hand instead of merely writing a post to correct small (in terms of this argument) miswriting.

[sparrman]

Posted: 11/25/08 at 1:00pm

I say height doesn't matter. (Most people know Lincoln was tall, but most people have no idea what the real Houdini looked like.) Fitness does matter, and there of course Jackman is fine. But also, Jewishness matters. And there, we have a problem with Jackman.

[PRFRMR20]

Posted: 11/26/08 at 9:42am

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Hugh_Jackman_as_Harry_in_Elfman_and_Yazbeks_Broadway_Bound_HOUDINI_20081126

Very similar to the info Fan2 linked... but now on a Bway website. Looks as this might be more than a rumor and I am definitely excited to see Houdini on Broadway

[squeakyfromme82]

Posted: 11/26/08 at 9:46am

I hope everything works out with this, because I think it's perfect for a musical telling.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 11/26/08 at 10:05am

Houdini had a fascinating life- not only was he an international superstar but obsessed with his mother and, after she died, obsessed with the supernatural- even though deep down he feared (Knew?) that it was all a ruse. Tell that story well and I can't imagine anyone saying "I thought he was shorter...."

[PRFRMR20]

Posted: 11/26/08 at 10:10am

What about, "I thought he was Jewish..."?

[mormonophobic]

Posted: 11/26/08 at 10:23am

This looks very exciting, as I like most of the people involved and the subject matter seems interesting. There are just so many things they can do with this onstage to really make it (sorry) magical. And after seeing his turn as a magician in The Prestige (imo Nolan's most underrated masterpiece), I would love to see him combine two past roles (in a way) as a singing magician. Especially the great Harry Houdini.

[jo]

Posted: 11/27/08 at 6:51am

>>>SOOOOO, my question is, artistic merits aside, who would you rather see naked, Hugh Jackman or Michael Cerveris?<<<

Lol - you must have just seen AUSTRALIA and the famous shower scene!

Btw, Wolverine (Hugh's iconic film role) is supposed to be 5'3" in the comic books, but look where his interpretation of that role has got him.

Hugh also did one or two magic tricks on some talk shows when he was promoting The Prestige - that puts him one step ahead of other potential leads *wink*

But we'll see whether this one happens - he has been tipped for many other return to Broadway roles in the past. Although he has told a few people ( including some fans) that he is expecting to be back on Broadway in 2010. Maybe now that he has moved residence back to NYC, this possibility is more likely than other rumored past projects?

[jo]

Posted: 11/27/08 at 6:59am

Interesting interview with Hugh when he was promoting The Prestige. It seems that he has had some fascination of the life of Houdini since earlier --

http://joblo.com/index.php?id=13221