Reviewed by Ceri Horner
March 2014
Ira Levin’s best known play Deathtrap holds the record as the longest running comedy thriller on Broadway and was nominated for the 1978 Tony Awards for best play. Over 35 years later it’s easy to see why.
Levins play is full of completely unexpected twists and turns that continue to surprise and delight the audience and is interspersed with plenty humour that hasn’t aged a bit.
Director Ian Rigney has assembled a very capable cast and has used Vincent Eustace’s set design well. The show has a great 70’s feel without coming across as clichéd and the impressive walls of weapons helped the tension along.
The violence in this production can be particularly difficult to pull off for an amateur company and Rigney’s production is mostly successful.
Matthew Randell as established playwright Sidney Bruhl and Sue Wylie as his wife Myra are convincing as a middle aged couple in a well-worn marriage and James Edwards is enthusiastic and engaging as Sidney’s young protégé Clifford Anderson.
Lindy LeCornu appears to have fun in the role of the outrageously over the top psychic Helga ten Dorp. LeCornu provides plenty of laughs to relieve the tension, and Tim Taylor is great as Porter Milgrim, although he was a little quiet and therefore difficult to understand on opening night.
If there was ever a play worth killing for, this one might just be it. Deathtrap is an excellent thriller with plenty of laughs and this enjoyable production by Therry will keep you guessing until the very end.
