Deathtrap by Ira Levin combines black comedy and murderous intrigue with a roller-coaster plot that keeps the audience on the edge of their seats right up to the final curtain.
A washed-up playwright plots to steal another man’s work and pass it off as his own. There follows an evening of deceit and duplicity, where nothing is quite as it seems. Indeed, one of the real pleasures comes from spotting the multiple layers of falsehood as events unfold. Little wonder this play has been so popular since it was first staged in 1978.
In the latest production at the Apollo, Jason Harris oozed malignant charm as the scheming playwright, Sidney Bruhl. He has the knack of saying one thing and clearly meaning another, leaving the audience in no doubt that Sidney is not to be trusted.
Ginnie Orrey (channelling Lucy Worsley in a blond wig and natty red skirt) played his wife, Myra. The only character with a shred of moral fibre, Myra is a timid Lady Macbeth, urging caution but standing by while Sidney appears to murder his guest. Despite squeamish misgivings, she even helps dispose of the ‘corpse.’
The ‘victim’, Clifford Anderson, was played with great energy by Chris Walsh. As events spiral out of control, Clifford gradually shows his true colours, going from naive young wannabe to murderous lunatic in two frantic hours. Chris portrayed the decline with gleeful flare, maintaining a convincing accent throughout and displaying an excellent dynamic range.
Other characters included the lawyer, Porter Milgrim (played with suitable aplomb by Ian Moth) and next-door-neighbour, Helga Ten Dorp. Funnier and more eccentric than Madame Arcati, this is a role that could have been written for Maggie Cardew who adopted a faultless eastern European accent and lit up the stage every time she appeared in a cloud of beads and psychedelic green. (To be honest, Helga has more than her fair share of funny lines.)
The play was tightly directed by Steve Reading who has a bit of a reputation for tackling technically demanding plays like this. The convoluted narrative was easy to follow and the action gathered pace nicely, particularly in the second act. Movement around the stage was natural and invariably interesting, and the violent episodes were especially well handled.
Congratulations to everyone involved in this highly enjoyable production.
Rreview by Chris Hicks
A good show. I enjoyed it.