Reviewed by Louise Styles
Deathtrap, by Ira Levin, is currently performing at Aylesbury Waterside Theatre until Saturday 23rd September 2017. It’s thrilling story which will literally have you jumping out of your seat.
Levin wrote the original stage play in 1978 and after selling out on Broadway earned himself a Tony Award. In 1982 Deathtrap was made into a movie for the big screen however it never succeeded in doing as well as the stage version. Deathtrap still holds the title of longest running thriller on Broadway – no easy feat.
Aylesbury Waterside Theatre is always a great theatre to visit, friendly staff, masses of toilets, easy parking access. All things that compliment a great evening out.
With just five characters, Deathtrap is a cleverly woven thriller of suspense and it gets you from the very opening seconds. This production stars Paul Bradley, well known for his screen work playing Professor Elliot Hope in Holby City and Nigel Bates in EastEnders, alongside Jessie Wallace, most commonly known for her portrayal of Kat Slater in EastEnders as well as touring in Chicago. They are joined by Sam Phillips, Beverley Klein and Julien Ball to make up a cast of characters who are all not quite as they seem.
The play is set continuously in Sidney (Bradley) and Myra’s (Wallace) marital home in Westport, Connecticut and the first act is played out over the course of an afternoon/evening/night of a day in October. Things aren’t quite as they seem and the play is filled with little twists as well as a good amount of humour. To break up some of the scenes we get shown clips from other well-known suspense thrillers which are relevant when its revealed that Sidney is a well-known thriller writer.
It took a little while for me to accept the American accents when I was looking at two well-known ‘EastEnders’ but once you get involved in the story it pulls you along to the next twist. The parody between writing a play called ‘Deathtrap’ while watching ‘Deathtrap’ was a great element.
An evening filled with suspense, laughs and jumps.
Rating: 3/5
Tickets cost from £18.40 to £40.40 (plus £2.85 transaction fee).
Deathtrap is at the Waterside Theatre in Aylesbury from 19-23 September 2017, for more information or to book tickets visit www.atgtickets.com/aylesbury or call the box office on 0844 871 7607.
Waterside Theatre, Exchange Street, Aylesbury, Bucks, HP20 1UG | 0844 871 7607
