Minerva vs. Houdini in new play

A new play about real-life escape artist Minerva and her rivalry with Houdini will have its World Premiere at Theatre Network in Edmonton, January 17-27. Previews begin January 15.

Ghost Writer Theatre presents
The World Premiere of
Minerva – Queen of the Handcuffs
By Ron Pearson 

No binds can hold her! No box can contain her! She can escape from anything… anything but the clutches of the master himself! Minerva – Queen of the Handcuffs is the true story of the world’s most famous female escape artist and her rivalry with Harry Houdini. This world premiere production features Edmonton’s own master escape artist, Miranda Allen. 

Featuring: Miranda Allen (Minerva) & Richard Lee Hsi (Houdini)
Director: Bradley Moss

Author Ron Pearson shared some details about the play at Dean Carnegie's Magic Detective. Ron says, "I very much liked the idea of portraying Houdini as the bad guy, as he is traditionally seen as the archetypal hero. It gave me the opportunity to cast him as the symbol for all of the barriers and inequality that women had to endure at the turn of the twentieth century, particularly female performers."

For more information and to buy tickets visit the Theatre Network website. You can also follow the production's progress on their Facebook page.

UPDATE: Check out this review of the real Minerva I just found in an April 1907 issue of Variety. I've not heard that "former assistant" claim before.

Related:

• Magic History Conference spotlights Minerva The Handcuff Queen
• Houdini Plays