Review: Drury Lane's DEATHTRAP Lures Audiences in with Psychological Thriller

How does one begin to review a play with a plot that can't truly be revealed? Deathtrap, Ira Levin's modern, edgy murder mystery, plays at Drury Lane Theatre from July 9 - August 14. It's chalked full of twists and turns and is one of those rare shows that will leave you racking your brain for clues for the rest of the week. Don't be fooled by its morbid, 'horror genre' title--it's a psychological thriller that's bound to lure even the most squeamish of audience members in with its layered story, its complex characters and its wry humor.

Daniel Cantor tackles the role of Sidney Bruhl, a playwright who is past his prime and itching to rekindle a formerly successful career. When a play arrives in the mail, written by a young, aspiring writer (Aaron Latterell), he begins to see potential in the other playwright's work--from there, the story takes flight.

Cantor plays a slightly unstable, withdrawn and cynical artist with ease. Latterell's performance as Cliff Anderson, a young dreamer hellbent on 'making it big', is outstanding. Together, they bring Levin's 1978 smash to life in a powerfully gripping way. Opposite Cantor is McKinley Carter playing Sidney's sensible wife Myra. She, along with Cindy Gold's portrayal of nosey neighbor/eccentric psychic, Helga ten Dorp, are superb in their respective roles. The intimate cast weaves a tapestry of good acting, and for this story that's key.

We open in the Bruhl's Westport, Connecticut home, nestled deeply in the woods. Its dimly lit, cabin-like ambiance (plus the collection of guns and knifes that lace the home's interior) place us exactly where we'd picture a traditional 'murder mystery' happening. We're suspicious of characters right off the bat; but nothing is ever as it seems. Drury's production, spearheaded by William Osetek, toys with elements of the classic "whodunnit?" game while shattering each and every prediction for what will happen next.

Deathtrap, a Tony Award nominee for Best Play, is two hours and 15 minutes of intense, edge-of-your-seat story, testing the barrier of fantasy and reality. The worst part? Once out of the theater, audiences will have to remain tight-lipped about the thriller's juicy spoilers.

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Deathtrap is to die for! See it play at Drury Lane through August 14th. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.drurylanetheatre.com

Photo Credit: Cathy Taylor Public Relations, Inc.

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