Arts Alliance of Pine Rivers Inc

DEATHTRAP

 

DEATHTRAP

Written by Ira Levin

At Samford Valley Theatre Group

Directed by Colin Russell

 

Most community halls have not been built to serve adequately as theatres. It is of great credit to the Samford Community and a foresighted councillor that this is not the case at Samford. The hall is truly a multi-faceted one and provides ample stage area and wings. The seating was at long tables and the locals brought their nibbles to share and there was a licensed bar to provide an excellent selection.

That was my first surprise. When the curtain opened I received my second. The set was nothing like I have seen so far in the suburbs. It was great. Colin and Chrissy Russell had faithfully recreated a stylish “renovated” mystery playwright’s office with all the axes, swords, bows, guns and knives of his plays mounted on the walls. These were not only visually pleasing but also essential to the play. I presume that the lighting was designed by Brian Bloodsworth as he is listed as operator. This too had a quirky twist to it. The entrance was brightly lit but as characters stepped into the room the lighting changed to give the room a sinister look.

This is a “life mimics story” play and I don’t want to give away too much of the plot. Suffice it to say that once successful playwright Sidney Bruhl, John Sayles has hit a long dry patch and has been reduced to running workshops.  Sayles plays his character with just the right amount of sinister cunning and humour to have us mistrusting him from the beginning. Clifford Anderson, Erik De Wit, one of his pupils has sent Bruhl a copy of a potentially highly successful play and Bruhl plans to lure him to his house, murder him and steal the play. Be warned nothing is as it seems in this clever play.

De Wit plays his part with gusto and between them they have the audience changing quickly from raucous laughter to deadly silence. Angel Dormer plays Bruhl’s long suffering wife and does an excellent job of creating much of the tension. The scene stealing character of Helga ten Dorp (a psychic with some of the best lines) was beautifully played by Chrissy Russell. I loved the line “Ahh, my daughter has just become pregnant. I must rush home and tell her”. Errol Barnett rounded off the group with his interpretation of lawyer Porter Milgrim, a part he obviously relished,

Colin Russell’s direction is faultless. He has cast well and he moves cast members around the stage effortlessly. I saw the play on opening night and there was a large audience. I expect it will have a highly successful run so don’t leave it too late to book. It is a great night out. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Ray Swenson

Performance Dates

Friday and Saturday nights at 8.00 pm. until 10^th April

Samford Community Hall

School Rd. Samford.

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