Deathtrap: A production that remains entertaining despite assorted weak moments

Diana Franz. Photo: Maria Vartanova

Deathtrap has a powerful ending. The problem is that it dribbles on for one scene too many after that.

Ira Levin’s 1978 comedy/thriller was a hit that ran for four years on Broadway, a further hit as a movie starring Michael Caine, and it continues to be an effective send-up of the whodunit genre, with its many twists and layers.

A play about a playwright trying to overcome a writer’s block and write a hit thriller, the audience is set up to believe he is ready to kill for an idea. Just then, the perfect commercially viable play, written by one of his students, falls into his lap.

Five characters, one set and a clever plot make it seem ideal for Broadway and Levin makes the script under discussion, from title to format, a mirror image of the play in progress on stage.

In the Ottawa Little Theatre production of Deathtrap, directed by John Collins, Lawrence Evenchick is highly effective as the egotistical playwright, Stanley Bruhl, in the midst of a lengthy dry spell and Dan DeMarbre is a fine counterpoint as the young writer on the verge of fame and fortune.

The remaining three characters — lightly written and one-dimensional — are far less rewarding to play and far more difficult to make interesting. Gordon Walls is businesslike as Bruhl’s lawyer and friend. Diana Franz, as Bruhl’s wife, would benefit from more active direction and Angela Pelly, as the psychic neighbour Helga ten Dorp, has some difficulty with this silly character. (In many respects, the problem is more in Levin’s writing than Pelly’s delivery, though more evidence of direction would have helped.}

In general, this production, enhanced by Mike Hefferman’s very attractive and workable set, remains entertaining despite the unnecessary final scene and assorted weak moments that allow too much time to consider inconsistencies.

Deathtrap continues at Ottawa Little Theatre to April 6.

Review of Deathtrap

Murder on stage

Deathtrap

By Ira Levin

Ottawa Little Theatre