Review: DEATHTRAP at Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre

A new production of Ira Levin's 1978 play "Deathtrap" has been mounted at Kansas City's Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre. "Deathtrap" is Broadway's champion longest running comedy-thriller. With apologies to Winston Churchill, "Deathtrap is a conundrum wrapped in a mystery, buried in an enigma, and shrouded in secrecy!"

The actors play the action straight until the script comes to multiple forks in the road and the show shifts into an entirely new direction. "Deathtrap" manages to surprise and to delight multiple times prior to the final curtain. Audiences leave the theater with a silly grin pasted on their faces and wondering why they did not see the final twist coming.

"Deathtrap" is a five- person play written in two acts on one set. The entire play takes place in the den/office of playwright Sydney Bruhl as designed by MET artistic director and cast member Karen Paisley. The set has a warm man-cave feel. The Bruhl home is nestled in the Connecticut countryside. Framed play posters adorn the walls. Scattered between the posters are numerous prop weapons from Sydney's hit plays.

Sydney Bruhl (Craig Benton) is a washed up playwright who specializes in mystery-thrillers. He is married to the rich and lovely, Myra (Karen Paisley). Myra is a semi invalid. She suffers from an ailing heart. Sydney currently suffers a major case of writer's block.

The play opens with Sydney reading at his desk. He is clearly frustrated. To keep busy, Sydney has taken to teaching college seminars for aspiring playwrights. In fact, he is currently reading a play called "Deathtrap" from student Clifford Anderson (Connor Eastman). Clifford's play is very good. Sydney wonders aloud if he can get away with murdering Clifford and claiming the play as his own.

Myra is shocked. She convinces Sydney that a collaboration might be possible, but murder is entirely out of the question. Sydney telephones Clifford, informs him his play has promise, invites him to the Bruhl home, and suggests they might work together. Clifford accepts. Myra is visibly relieved.

In the next scene, Sydney returns home with Clifford in tow. It turns out no additional copies of "Deathtrap" exist outside Sydney's immediate control. Murder again becomes a possibility. Sydney unexpectedly throttles Clifford to his death in full view of a shocked Myra.

Myra is appalled. She is on the verge of breakdown. Sydney rolls up the young man's body in a Persian rug and buries it behind the garage.

Sydney returns as an unknown woman appears at the French doors. She is the famous medium Helga Ten Dorp. Helga has just rented the vacant home next door. She explains she has just experienced a vision of horrible pain coming from the Bruhl home. Sydney and Myra assure eccentric Helga all is well and she returns home. Sydney calms Myra and they prepare to retire.

There is a background crash. A bloody and dirty version of dead Clifford bursts through the French doors. He grabs Sydney from behind and proceeds to beat him to death. Myra is shocked, clutches for her heart, suffers a massive heart attack, and falls to the floor. Myra is dead.

Sydney sits up and looks around. The staged murders have had their planned effect. Clifford and Sydney have deliberately shocked Myra's weak heart into a stoppage so they can move in together as partners. Act I ends and intermission begins.

Author Ira Levin has more surprises darkly waiting in Act II. But I won't spoil them by exposing them here. Playwright Levin and Director Linda Ade Brand have saved their best tricks for later.

"Deathtrap" continues at the Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre through November 5. "Deathtrap" is funny in a way not achieved except by the occasional "Twilight Zone" episode. It is worth seeing for you. Tickets are available on the MET website www.metkc.org or by telephone at 816-569-3226.

Photo courtesy of MET KC - Clifford (left) and Sydney from "Deathtrap

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