Blumenort escape artist to challenge world record

A Blumenort man who calls himself an “escape artist and freak magician/sideshow artist” will challenge a Guinness world record and host his own show at the Winnipeg Fringe Theatre Festival.

Brett Oddly, who’s real last name is Hogan, was named as Winnipeg’s number one magician this year, and he will put his reputation on the line with his show, Houdini – the man, the myth, the legend.

But he’ll also be taking on the world record of most call bells rang with his forehead in one minute.

Oddly, who’s known for his escape artistry and freak shows that include eating light bulbs, said for the last decade he’s been applying to beat an existing record.

That hasn’t worked until this year and Oddly said he was looking forward to breaking the existing record which was 70 rings with the bell in one minute.

“A week and a half ago, someone else broke that record so now I have to do more than 117,” he said. “It just got a lot harder but I’m still going to go for it.”

Oddly will try for 126 rings in a minute.

This will take place as part of the free show at The Cube in Winnipeg at 2:30 p.m. on July 22.

Houdini

But there’s more than ringing call bells in his bag of tricks.

Oddly will perform his show, Houdini – the man, the myth, the legend, at the Centre Culturel Franco-Manitobaine, beginning July 16 and ending July 27.

This will give people the opportunity to step into the world of the legendary Harry Houdini in a tribute to the master escape artist.

The show will combine historical storytelling with daring escapes and illusions.

Oddly said the show will include magic and illusions performed by Houdini in a 1923 visit to Winnipeg.

It’s a departure of sorts for Oddly who says he’s typically a danger performance and escape artist but added it’s a chance to give tribute to someone who motivates him and his peers.

“Everyone knows Houdini revolutionized escape artists and made them popular and created a lot of magic that came along with that,” he said. “He’s a big inspiration to anyone in the field, so it’s kind of an homage of giving him credit where credit is due.”

Oddly said, it’s a big opportunity for people to take a step back in time.

“Not a lot of people know what a magic show in 1923 looked like, or what kind of illusions were there and it’s very different from what we see today,” he said.

Oddly said shows were slower paced and relied on the spoken word in the absence of upbeat music.

Houdini was opposed to psychics and frauds and used something called a spirit cabinet. Used predominantly by self-proclaimed psychics, it was typically used to convince an audience that the dead had been summoned.

Houdini used it to show it was an illusion, just part of any magician’s repertoire.

Oddly will be demonstrating that as well and said, to a point, he’ll be showing how it works.

He’ll also be pulling out a few more Houdini tricks including an escape from a straitjacket while hanging upside down.

He’ll also do Houdini’s metamorphosis or sub trunk trick, which involves a restrained magician to be placed in a trunk and then instantaneously swapping places with the assistant.

Oddly is no stranger to Fringe, saying this is his fifth solo show. He’s also been part of various casts over the years.

“The Fringe really provides a good affordable way for anyone to get something on stage and to embrace it and allow it,” he said. “The amount I pay Fringe for eight shows is how much I’d be paying another comparable theatre for a single night.”

More information can be found at www.brettoddly.ca.