WHAT: Deathtrap WHERE: Players' Ring BLURB: Entertaining as hell. HIGH POINT: A real Thriller! The review for Deathtrap is going to be a short but sweet one, out of respect for the piece. Also - out of respect - it should be said this is a throughly entertaining production, a classic thriller done right.
There is little one can share about the script without ruining the experience.
Deathtrap is all about suspense. While the "who-done-it" is revealed fairly quickly, it's not the end of the it's twists, turns and tensions by a long-shot. There's jump-scares, gasps, a thunderstorm, of course, and a delightful dose of laughs.
It's set in 1978, in the work-studio of successful playwright Sidney Bruhl (John Budzyna), who is experiencing a major slump. With hims is Myra (Sally Nutt), his dutiful wife. Over a series of days they'll be visited by Clifford (Thomas Carnes), Sidney's sycophant student; Helga ten Dorp (Trish Aponte), an outrageous, yet over-the-top psychic, and Porter Milgrim (Ed Simeone), the couple's lawyer.
That's all you're getting on that count.
As for the performers, a little more can be said, but again, too much detail would be telling.
Budzyna gives a smart performance as Sidney, the character's hubris just oozes from every pore.
Nutt delivers a solid Myra, but on opening weekend, takes a while to ease in to her character.
Carnes nails Clifford, the young want to be writer; a throughly convincing portrayal.
Aponte was last seen at the Ring portraying Gena, the grandmother in The Stand, a big personality. Helga, the flamboyant psychic, is bigger still, as is this performance.
Simeone as Porter rounds out the cast with a solid, authentic performance.
To not add more is almost painful. Just one little add-on. The performance of one character's arch is deserves not, a nimble performance.
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