Comedy Thriller DEATHTRAP to Bring Mystery & Fun to Syracuse Stage

Syracuse Stage presents "Deathtrap," a comedy-thriller guaranteed to keep audiences on the edge of their seats.

Written by award-winning playwright and novelist Ira Levin, "Deathtrap" has all the right ingredients for the perfect murder mystery with a delightful twist. There are thrills and surprises around every corner.

This captivating murder mystery opens on Friday, May 12 in the Archbold Theatre at the Syracuse Stage/SU Drama Complex, 820 E. Genesee St. There will be preview performances on Wednesday, May 10 and Thursday, May 11.

After the play's Broadway debut in 1978, it received an Edgar Award (named after Edgar Allen Poe) for Best Play from the Mystery Writers of America. The show later earned a Tony nomination for Best Play and was called "an absolute knockout of suspense melodrama" by New York Times reviewer Walter Kerr. "Deathtrap" is the longest-running comedy-thriller on Broadway, with a four-year run of 1,793 performances at the Music Box Theatre.

Ira Levin is best known for successful thriller novels such as "Rosemary's Baby" and "The Stepford Wives". "Deathtrap" centers on a once successful playwright, Sidney Bruhl, who finds himself in desperate need of a hit. While brooding over the failure of his most recent plays, Bruhl receives a manuscript from a former student, a young man named Clifford. Instantly, Bruhl recognizes the play's potential to be the hit he so badly needs and conspires with his wife, Myra, to "separate" the young writer from the as yet unpublished and unproduced work. Considered a "play within a play", "Deathtrap" mixes comedy with tongue-in-cheek references to the theatre. Levin also honors the tradition of the mystery genre with sly and subtle allusions to older thrillers like "Dial M for Murder" and "Sleuth".

Director Paul Barnes, known for his past work on Syracuse Stage's "The Miracle Worker," "Irving Berlin's White Christmas" and "Peter Pan," is a long-time "Deathtrap" fan. Barnes saw the original Broadway production, and he hopes to evoke in Syracuse Stage audiences the same vicarious thrill he experienced.

"People love a good murder mystery because you get to experience danger without risking life or limb," said Barnes. "I hope our work fulfills the thrills and chills Ira Levin so cleverly intended when he wrote the play, 'Deathtrap' provides audiences with that roller-coaster ride sense of risk and surprise, from which everyone emerges safe, sound and in one piece at journey's end."

"Deathtrap" is a thriller in two acts, with one set and five characters. Barnes intends to stay true to the show's pre-computer, pre-cell phone, 1970s world. Barnes has directed other mysteries and says he enjoys the speculation they generate among audience members.

"It's always interesting to eavesdrop on conversations and listen to who people thought had actually done the murder," said Barnes. "Murder mysteries provide a great way for people to think or experience something they might not know about. It brings me satisfaction knowing that it gets people theorizing and comparing notes with one another."

"Deathtrap" was originally scheduled to close the 16/17 Syracuse Stage season before the addition of "Ring of Fire: The Music of Johnny Cash" (June 7 - 25). Associate artistic director Kyle Bass said "Deathtrap" was included for this season because it is a play full of excitement and fun.

"In bringing this kind of thrill to Syracuse Stage, 'Deathtrap' wraps up our subscription season on a high note," said Bass.

Tickets are available at www.SyracuseStage.org, by phone at 315.443.3275 and in person at the Box Office.

Creative Team:

Directed by Paul Barnes

Scenic Design: William Bloodgood

Costume Design: Susan Branch Towne

Lighting Design: Lonnie Rafael Alcaraz

Sound Design: Joe Payne

Fight Director: Alec Barbour

Production Stage Manager: Stuart Plymesser

Casting: Harriet Bass

Cast

(in order of appearance)

James Lloyd Reynolds Sidney

Anney Giobbe Myra

Carl Howell Clifford

Joyce Cohen Helga

Curzon Dobell Porter

Special Events:

May 12 Opening Night Party (free for ticket holders)

Join the cast for a post-show celebration with live music, food by Pure Catering, drinks and live music by Kitestring, an acoustic rock band playing Americana, blues and soul.

May 14 Prologue at 1 p.m. (free for ticket holders)

An intimate, pre-show discussion with the actors one hour prior to curtain. Bring your questions.

Actor Talkback (free for ticket holders)

A Q&A session with the actors following the 7 p.m. performance.

May 18 Murder Mystery Happy Hour at 6 p.m. (free for ticket holders)

Enjoy complimentary appetizers from Dolce Vita and half-priced drinks as you and your friends solve your own murder mystery, hosted by Happenings CNY, for the chance to win a prize pack from Visit Syracuse.

May 19 New! Craft Beer Tasting ($50, includes beer tasting and show admission)

Enjoy beers from local breweries and hors d' oeuvres before the show.

May 20 Prologue at 2 p.m. (free for ticket holders)

An intimate, 20-minute pre-show discussion with the actors one hour prior to curtain. Bring your questions.

ASL Interpreted Performance at 3 p.m. for patrons who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Audio Described Performance at 3 p.m. for patrons who are blind or visually impaired.

May 24 Wednesday @ 1 Lecture (free for ticket holders)

Barbara Block, Syracuse-based author of the Robin Light mystery series, will give a lecture at 1 p.m. in the Sutton Pavilion before the 2 p.m. performance.

Open Captioning at 2 p.m. Performance for patrons who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Dinner & Show ($45, includes dinner and show admission)

Enjoy a buffet dinner with fellow theatre lovers in the Sutton Pavilion before the 7:30 performance. Seasonal fare prepared by Phoebe's Restaurant followed by great theatre.

May 25 Prologue at 6:30 p.m. (free for ticket holders)

An intimate, 20-minute pre-show discussion with the actors one hour prior to curtain. Bring your questions.

May 28 Open Captioning at 2 p.m. Performance for patrons who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Syracuse Stage is Central New York's premier professional theatre in residence at Syracuse University. Founded in 1974, Stage has produced more than 300 plays in over 40 seasons including a number of world, American, and East Coast premieres. Each season 70,000 patrons enjoy an adventurous mix of new plays, and bold interpretations of classics and musicals, featuring the finest theatre artists. In addition, Stage maintains a vital educational outreach program that annually serves more than 15,000 students from 14 counties. A solid core of subscribers and supporters helps keep Syracuse Stage a vibrant artistic presence in Central New York. Additional support comes from the government, foundations, corporations and Syracuse University. Syracuse Stage is a constituent of the Theatre Communications Group (TCG), the national organization for the American theatre, and a member of the Arts and Cultural Leadership Alliance (ACLA), the University Hill Corporation and the East Genesee Regent Association. Syracuse Stage is a member of The League of Resident Theatres (LORT), the largest professional theatre association in the country.

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