Review: 'Deathtrap'

Before reading our written review check out our exclusive preview of the production here!

Kate Bull reviews the Drama Barn’s first play of this academic year – Ira Levin’s Deathtrap.

‘Deathtrap’ set this year’s Drama Barn programme off to a flying start. With a talented cast, great set and a quick, pleasing pace given to the script, the play was a joy to watch.

Despite the cast’s humourous put downs of McGregor’s work in a ‘documentary’ filmed during the play’s rehearsal period (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knU10g6N45M&feature=plcp), his direction produced a crisp, clean production of Ira Levin’s classic.

The space was used well, and the farcical nature of the action augmented with greatly timed sound and lighting; a melodramatic thunder storm – complete with strobe lighting and rolling thunder – brought cackles from the audience.

Mungo Tatton-Brown did was he does best and produced a “devious and underhanded” Sidney Bruhl of immense pomposity, with booming phrases and grandiose gestures. Lily Cooper’s quiet, scurrying Myra contrasted well with this.

Louis Lunts portrayed the irritatingly enthusiastic Clifford Anderson believably, changing from bashful university student to confident playwright with ease.

The main male characters had great chemistry, not only between themselves, but with the audience. Their pauses, jokes and double entendres elicited great reactions from the densely packed audience.

The smaller parts – played by Roseanna Brear and Richard Spears – added comic relief to the action. Levin’s comedy is very dark, and the reprieve provided by Helga Ten Dorp and Porter Milgrim was welcomed.

The set - ornate, and somewhat oppressive – was filled with actors of great ability, who delivered Levin’s script with aplomb. A great production, thoroughly recommended.

And catch our full audio review today at 2 in YorWorld!