April 2020 is thriller time and I am happy to be directing Ira Levin’s classic: Deathtrap.
Written in 1975, it still holds the record for the longest running comedy-thriller on Broadway, was made into a film starring Michael Caine in 1982, was revived in the West End in 2010 and thoroughly deserved its ongoing popularity.
It is set in America, in The Hamptons and is a masterclass in thriller writing, ingeniously constructed, with a skilful blend of thrills, shocks and laugh out loud moments.
The premise is: How far will someone go to have a hit play? It seems that all 5 characters have evil intent: Sidney Bruhl, a famous but failing writer; Myra, his wife; aspiring writer, Clifford Anderson; nosey neighbour, psychic Helga and even Bruhl’s attorney, Porter Milgrim.
All the basics of a thriller are there but just when you think you have things sussed, Levin pulls the rug from under your feet. He offers clues which are almost gift wrapped but … which are the real ones and which are red herrings?
Add to this a huge dollop of laughter and a thoroughly enjoyable evening is on the cards, so please come along. Be thrilled, amused and entertained.
Pauline Walsh, Director
Saddleworth Players will perform Deathtrap at the Millgate Arts Centre from 28 March to 4 April. Tickets available from the Millgate website (millgateartscentre.co.uk) or by telephoning the Box Office on 01457 874644, Tuesdays 2pm–5pm, Wednesdays and Thursdays 2pm–7pm, and Fridays and Saturdays from 9:30am–1pm.