Cormac Richards reviews Deathtrap by Ira Levin.

When it comes to stage thrillers, Ira Levin’s ‘Deathtrap’ is one of the big hitters. The 1978 play had lengthy runs on both the Broadway and West End stages, telling the story of a washed-up playwright, who has writer’s block and indulges in cat and mouse games with a younger, inexperienced, but highly talented protégé.

Levin’s many layered, but lucid plot, plays with the audience as the two writers collaborate on a play called ‘Deathtrap’ with the same plot as the one they are watching. It is clever, smart, admirable and ever so slightly smug. It is, above all, tremendously entertaining.

Andrew Beckett’s set design is, once again, brilliant and the building of it and its dressing by James Prendergast and Rhys Cannon is faultless – the level of detail is of the highest level; Bruhl’s writing room adorned with posters from his plays and a wonderful array of weaponry used in them. Throughout atmospheric, minor key music is used to blend the scenes and effectively build tension of which there is plenty.

Despite the fact that this is a thriller, it is also very funny and when the thrills come they send energy around the auditorium causing a certain amount of seat-jumping! Jason Moore brings all these moments out brilliantly with his exemplary direction.

The role of Sidney Bruhl fits Dominic McChesney like a glove; the whirring brain cells as he plots his next move can be read in the sly smile and the horrified stare. It is a wonderful character, full of self-pity and deviousness and McChesney is fairly dribbling at the jowls as he delivers the many choice, sarcastic and satisfying lines. He is matched by Gwithian Evans as the young upstart, Clifford Anderson; innocent and in admiration to begin with, but when the plot thickens, the character develops radically; this is a performance of great strength and Evans is utterly convincing.

Bruhl’s wife, Myra, plays a pivotal part in the story and Victoria Waddington gives depth and character to the less showy role with a wonderful range of facial expressions. Left-field casting gives us Laura Mead as the wildly eccentric psychic Helga Ten Dorp; played for full comic effect; it works rather better than one might think. James Pellow offers some gravitas as Bruhl’s attorney Porter Milgrim; his seriousness unmasked as the play concludes.

This is a first-rate production of a thriller which has entertained for nearly fifty years – its longevity a testament to the writing – its effectiveness a testament to director, cast and crew working in perfect harmony. Thrilling.

DEATHTRAP continues until 14 September. Next week the final play in the Summer Season, the comedy, BEN HUR by Patrick Barlow which runs from 16-21 September. Visit the Manor Pavilion website.