BWW Reviews: DEATHTRAP Blurs The Lines Between “Reality” And Fiction In This Comedy Thriller

Thursday 23rd April 2015, Eternity Playhouse, Darlinghurst

Ira Levin's 1978 comedy thriller DEATHTRAP is bought to life by Darlinghurst Theatre Co and proves that the work is still captivating 37 years later. The mysterious play within a play has the audience guessing and gasping till the very end as the creation and the creators blur the lines between their reality and fiction.

Director Jo Turner has kept the production in the 1970's with Michael Hankin's detailed set with brown brick fireplace, above which hang an assortment of weapons including swords, daggers, a battle axe and assortment of pistols. Ubiquitous green leafy plants in brass pots sit beside the fireplace which overlooks the iconic sunken lounge, dominated by two large sofas which bring the action down to the front row of the audience. A desk with spherical lamp and typewriter dominate the risen stage left and a drinks cart with decanters and various types of crystal glasses graces stage right.

Andrew McFarlane gives the once successful playwright Sidney Bruhl a seemingly cynical and skeptical tone, reminiscent of Hugh Laurie's HOUSE which he carries well. He transitions easily from the disgruntled teacher learning that his student has written a potential blockbuster show following a seminar he has given to the playful husband teasing his uneasy wife with his thoughts on how to regain success and his obsession with weapons of death.

As Sidney's wife Myra, Sophie Gregg maintains the air of a New England socialite in manner and voice as she tiptoes across the stage and talks with a breathy lightness as she soothes Sidney and shares gossip about their neighbors and friends.

Sidney's young student, Clifford Anderson (Timothy Dashwood) is presented with an innocence to reel the audience before a darker side is shown. Whilst Sidney and Clifford have a lot of comic moments, both in lines and physicality, Georgina Symes' Helga Ten Dorp provides a different style of comedy relief as the "famous" psychic that has moved into the property next to the Bruhl's Connecticut estate. Symes creates a seemingly crazy old lady with a thick Dutch accent which adds to the absurdity of the character. Drew Fairley as Sidney's friend and lawyer Porter Milgrim is less fleshed out but his character is used to trigger plot turns.

This is somewhat bizarre storyline which has the audience guessing till the very end and being a thriller with a wall full of weapons, it does have moments not for the faint hearted as there were a number of moments where gasps and shrieks of horror and surprise escaped from the audience. These moments aside, the clever writing, direction and delivery does contain a lot of humor with witty little one-liners slipped in during serious conversations along with physical comedy. Verity Hampson's lighting design adds to the intensity of the dark moments but is also used to break the tension.

This well paced, tight performance is well worth seeing for both thriller enthusiasts and comedy fans alike, but if you are more a comedy than thriller person, this is another show that you may need that shoulder to bury yourself into at times.

DEATHTRAP

Darlinghurst Theatre Co

Eternity Playhouse 39 Burton St, Darlinghurst

10 April - 10 May 2015

Photos: Helen White

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