DEATHTRAP: Levin, Theatre Royal Nottingham till 6 September.

Nottingham.

DEATHTRAP
by Ira Levin.

Theatre Royal To 6 September 2008. One interval.
Moin-Fri 7.30pm Sat 5pm and 8pm Mat Wed 2pm.
Runs: 2hr 25min.

TICKETS: 0115 989 5555.
www.royalcentre-nottingham.co.uk
Review: Alan Geary 1 September 2008.

With its meta-theatricality and satirical wit, there’s more than a hint of the Stoppards in this thriller by Ira Levin (of Rosemary’s Baby fame). There are suggestions of plays within plays within a play.

Nottingham’s Classic Thriller Season has reached new heights this year. It’s been less dependent on Durbridge than most previous years, and more adventurous; this is the second of two American plays.

Keen, young and earnest, Clifford (Duncan MacInnes) has penned a potential money-machine of a thriller called 'Deathtrap'. But it seems that famous but failing - he’s had four flops in a row - thriller writer Sidney Bruhl (Patric Kearns), intends to murder Clifford and plagiarise 'Deathtrap' as his own work.

From one end of the play to the other the resulting plot twists and turns, and it’s packed with surprises.

Helga ten Dorp (Karen Henson) is a clairvoyant with an apparent gift for ESP. Theatrically OTT and dressed in red socks, she’s supposed to be Dutch - though she has more of a German than a Dutch accent. Jo Castleton, whom we encounter, initially, fixing herself the first of many stiff drinks, plays Myra, Sidney’s wife, a less sartorially flamboyant character than her usual. Jeremy Lloyd Thomas sheds his moustache to play the oddly named Porter Milgrim, Sidney’s attorney, a less villainous character than he normally portrays. All these are excellent.

Also excellent are the - not exaggeratedly so - seventies costumes and set from Geoff Gilder. This year’s Thriller Season is finishing on a high.

Sidney Bruhl: Patric Kearns.
Myra Bruhl: Jo Castleton.
Clifford Anderson: Duncan MacInnes.
Helga ten Dorp: Karen Henson.
Porter Milgrim: Jeremy Lloyd Thomas.

Director: Adrian Lloyd-James.
Designer: Geoff Gilder.
Lighting: Mark Pritchard.

2008-09-03 03:19:57