Deathtrap
Fri, 13 Dec 2002, 01:29 amWalter Plinge5 posts in thread
Deathtrap
Fri, 13 Dec 2002, 01:29 amWHAT: Deathtrap
WHEN: Thursday, December 12
WHERE: Old Mill Theatre, South Perth (WA)
What a fun night out. I was looking forward to this production - it's one of those well-known classics that I'd somehow never managed to see. According to the programme, Deathtrap ran for five years on Broadway, so it must have had something going for it.
The play opens with Sidney Bruhl (David McGarr), a faded playwright surviving on past glories, sick with envy over a superb new play he's received by mail. The play - Deathtrap - was written by a student that Bruhl met some months ago. The student - Cliff Anderson (Michael Dornan) - had sent it to Bruhl for comment. However, Bruhl recognises just how good the play really is, and starts to wonder how easy it would be to kill Anderson and claim Deathtrap as his own.....
Lost yet? I hope not, coz there are LOTS more twists and turns in this clever plot.
Old Mill Theatre have a reputation for effective sets, but this one was just wonderful. The walls of Bruhl's study/living room were mounted with weapons of all kinds - guns, knives, battleaxes, pitchforks, crossbows, etc. I'd go as far as to say it was almost perfect - the only thing that spoiled it was the clearly plastic pistol (with fluorescent orange muzzle) amidst all the authenticity. Sorry to be picky, but I can't just say, "Great set, great cast, great play." How boring and blatantly pandering is that?
Speaking of the cast, I thought they did a fine job. David and Michael worked together very well. I loved David's two-faced presentation, and Michael rolled with the changes quickly and convincingly. I really liked Shirley Toohey as Mrs Bruhl - perhaps a little bit quiet in places, but marvellous facial expressions and realistic emotions throughout.
Angela Kennedy played comic-relief-character, Helga ten Dorp - the Dutch neighbour with ESP. I'm in no position to comment as I can't do an accent to save my life, but Angela's seemed fine to me. She had most of the laughs and was clearly enjoying herself. Mark Steele played "the fifth character" with an imposing aspect and another really nice accent. Pity that, since he was playing a lawyer, he received NO audience sympathy (lucky no lawyers read this webpage, eh?)
If I have to give some constructive criticism, surely an Englishman - no matter HOW long he'd been in the US - would say "arsehole" and not "@!#$". And isn't it "etcetera, etcetera, etcetera" not "ekcetera, etc"?
As I said, I haven't seen the play or the 1982 film, but I felt sure the homosexual aspects (not that there's anything wrong with that) were stressed more in the plot - I distinctly remember a bit of a stir when the film debuted. I wonder if they were toned down in this production for the Old Mill's audience? Grumpy old fart that I am, it's a little scary to realise I was still pretty much the youngest person in the auditorium.
Lights and sound were mostly great, with an accidental flub here and there. I really liked the thunder sound effects, but a friend thought they were a bit loud. Maybe it depends on where you sit. There was some very nice mood music during particular scenes. I loved the way the "fireplace" flared up whenever anyone fed it some paper. Nice work.
Tonight's performance, Thursday, was sold out (!), so I don't fancy your chances of getting tickets for the final two performances, but it can't hurt to try. My thanks to Old Mill Theatre and co-directors Susan Vincent & Glenn Bell.
JB
WHEN: Thursday, December 12
WHERE: Old Mill Theatre, South Perth (WA)
What a fun night out. I was looking forward to this production - it's one of those well-known classics that I'd somehow never managed to see. According to the programme, Deathtrap ran for five years on Broadway, so it must have had something going for it.
The play opens with Sidney Bruhl (David McGarr), a faded playwright surviving on past glories, sick with envy over a superb new play he's received by mail. The play - Deathtrap - was written by a student that Bruhl met some months ago. The student - Cliff Anderson (Michael Dornan) - had sent it to Bruhl for comment. However, Bruhl recognises just how good the play really is, and starts to wonder how easy it would be to kill Anderson and claim Deathtrap as his own.....
Lost yet? I hope not, coz there are LOTS more twists and turns in this clever plot.
Old Mill Theatre have a reputation for effective sets, but this one was just wonderful. The walls of Bruhl's study/living room were mounted with weapons of all kinds - guns, knives, battleaxes, pitchforks, crossbows, etc. I'd go as far as to say it was almost perfect - the only thing that spoiled it was the clearly plastic pistol (with fluorescent orange muzzle) amidst all the authenticity. Sorry to be picky, but I can't just say, "Great set, great cast, great play." How boring and blatantly pandering is that?
Speaking of the cast, I thought they did a fine job. David and Michael worked together very well. I loved David's two-faced presentation, and Michael rolled with the changes quickly and convincingly. I really liked Shirley Toohey as Mrs Bruhl - perhaps a little bit quiet in places, but marvellous facial expressions and realistic emotions throughout.
Angela Kennedy played comic-relief-character, Helga ten Dorp - the Dutch neighbour with ESP. I'm in no position to comment as I can't do an accent to save my life, but Angela's seemed fine to me. She had most of the laughs and was clearly enjoying herself. Mark Steele played "the fifth character" with an imposing aspect and another really nice accent. Pity that, since he was playing a lawyer, he received NO audience sympathy (lucky no lawyers read this webpage, eh?)
If I have to give some constructive criticism, surely an Englishman - no matter HOW long he'd been in the US - would say "arsehole" and not "@!#$". And isn't it "etcetera, etcetera, etcetera" not "ekcetera, etc"?
As I said, I haven't seen the play or the 1982 film, but I felt sure the homosexual aspects (not that there's anything wrong with that) were stressed more in the plot - I distinctly remember a bit of a stir when the film debuted. I wonder if they were toned down in this production for the Old Mill's audience? Grumpy old fart that I am, it's a little scary to realise I was still pretty much the youngest person in the auditorium.
Lights and sound were mostly great, with an accidental flub here and there. I really liked the thunder sound effects, but a friend thought they were a bit loud. Maybe it depends on where you sit. There was some very nice mood music during particular scenes. I loved the way the "fireplace" flared up whenever anyone fed it some paper. Nice work.
Tonight's performance, Thursday, was sold out (!), so I don't fancy your chances of getting tickets for the final two performances, but it can't hurt to try. My thanks to Old Mill Theatre and co-directors Susan Vincent & Glenn Bell.
JB