Jackman As Houdini? — Page 2

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?

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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.

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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

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.)

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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.

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

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

>>>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?