He has escaped a watery grave many times, but this was different for Tristan Christ.

This container he found himself in was dark - black in every direction.

But it was perfect for his illusions show.

And it's how Houdini did it.

The Milk Can escape is a trick Harry Houdini performed 100 years ago, confining himself in a milk can filled with water. The lid was sealed and an ax man was near incase things didn't go as planned.

"Failure Means a Drowning Death" is how Houdini promoted it. He even upped the risk by placing the can inside a locked, wooden chest.

Folding one's self into such a tiny space filled with water had audiences holding their breaths along with Houdini. But most were gasping for air long before the two minutes were up.

This is the same trick Christ has performed during his magic show many times, using a clear box when he was at Circus World over the past few years.

But the trick was suddenly different.

"It was scarier for me going into this because you can't see. It was very, very dark and it kind of freaked me out a bit," he said.

As the anniversary of the trick struck 100 years, Christ decided to go back and study Houdini's escape from the milk can, using old photographs and posters to recreate a can that would fit his 6-foot-2-inch frame.

The trick now has developed into Christ's new closing in his "Illusions of Reality" show that will come to the Portage Center for the Arts Friday night.

The show will take on a Halloween theme that is somewhat of a tribute to David Seebach, a Milwaukee magician Christ grew up idolizing.

"I was the kid who loved going to magic shows. I grew up in Milwaukee and went to see David Seebach. I remember every Halloween he would do a (themed) magic show," Christ said.

Performing magic shows by age 13, Christ knew he wanted to be in the performing arts. His involvement in theater went past college and led him to study dance with the Milwaukee Ballet School. And his illusions show is a way to continue interacting with an audience, which he says is a big part of the performance.

While sleight of hand magicians like David Blaine and Criss Angel have brought a popularity surge to magic, Christ said his style is built more for the stage.

"People will always ask me (to do a trick for them). Typically I will shy away from it," he said, adding that he prefers to leave that style of street magic for others. "But I do have a few tricks up my sleeve."

Friday's show also will include a new way to saw a person in half, and Christ will fold his assistant into a 12-inch box.

But it's Houdini's trick in water that has gained a lot of attention.

"I've definitely had people come up after the show and say it's great to see something Houdini did," Christ said.

Houdini called the Milk Can trick "the best escape that I have ever invented."

While Houdini first escaped from a milk can in 1908, this time of year also represents another anniversary - Houdini died on Halloween night in 1926. The Milk Can escape, however, lives on.

Houdini only performed the trick for four years, but his brother continued it through the 1940s.

To duplicate the feat, Christ spent five months working on controlled breathing and holding his breath.

"I could hold it for (at least) a minute, and that is how long it takes to escape," he said.

"(But) every time you do it you never know what can happen."

If you go

-- What: Tristan Christ's "Illusions of Reality".

-- Where: Portage Center for the Arts, 301 E. Cook St.

-- When: Friday, Oct. 24.

-- Cost: $15 for adults, $5 for students and children.

-- Cost: 7:30 p.m.