Deathtrap Set to Thrill at Therry
Adelaide’s Therry Dramatic Society begins its 2014 season with a perennial favourite, Deathtrap by Ira Levin.
The play had its Broadway premiere at New York’s Music Box Theatre in February 1978, going on to secure the record for the longest running comedy thriller on Broadway.
The original Broadway cast consisted of John Wood, Marian Seldes, Victor Garber, Marian Winters and Richard Woods. Seldes, as Myra Bruhl, appeared in every one of the production’s nearly 1,800 Broadway performances, earning her a mention in the Guinness Book of Records.
The plot, essentially a play within a play, is well-known. Sidney Bruhl, a playwright of genre thrillers, has a canon of classic plays in his back catalogue, but he hasn’t written a hit for years – or even a word worth keeping for months. In fact, this successful dramatist has had four Broadway flops in a row. He is so desperate, he would kill for a really good script. Kill for a script? Now, there’s an idea.
Deathtrap was nominated for Best Play in the1978 Tony Awards and it didn’t take long for a film adaptation of the popular play to be produced. The 1982 movie starred Christopher Reeve, Michael Caine and Dyan Cannon and caused some controversy because it featured a romantic kiss between the male leads.
Therry’s production of Deathtrap is directed by Ian Rigney, a man as perennial as Deathtrap itself.
The experienced cast includes James Edwards, Lindy LeCornu, Tim Taylor, Sue Wylie and Matthew Randell. Set design is by Vincent Eustace, lighting design by Denise Lovick and stage management by Ushmo.
Deathtrap is a classic and such is its following, it has even been the inspiration for a current Adelaide Fringe tongue-in-cheek production, Summer of Blood.
In the capable hands of Therry and the show’s director, Ian Rigney, Deathtrap promises a chilling, thrilling night out.
Lesley Reed
Bookings: From 24 February call 8296 3477 (Mon-Fri).
*From Monday 17 March (10 am to 5 pm on non-performance weekdays, 10 am to 7 pm on performance weekdays, 12 noon to 7 pm on performance Saturdays) tickets may be booked by calling the Arts Theatre Box Office on 8410 5515. *Please do not ring The Arts Theatre outside nominated hours.
Dates: Thursday 20th to Saturday 22nd March and Wednesday 26th to Saturday 29th March at 8 pm. Matinees: Saturdays 22nd and 29th March at 2 pm.
Venue: The Arts Theatre, 53 Angas Street, Adelaide.
Tickets: Adults $25, Concession $20, Students 17 and under $11, Preview $10 (all).
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