A Review of Deathtrap

by James E. Trainor III

Sidney Bruhl would kill for a new play. Or would he? The whole thing seems innocent enough; the twisted genius behind The Murder Game has a few notes for budding playwright Clifford Anderson. But why did he invite Clifford into his dagger-filled den in the middle of the night? And why did he ask him to bring along the only existing copies of his sure-fire smash Deathtrap?

In case you've never seen Ira Levin' 1978 play, or the 1982 film of the same name, we won't give away too much here. Suffice to say that Deathtrap centers around two devious writers who will do anything to make it big. Levin starts with the typical recipe - an enormous concatenation of unlikely circumstances, colorful characters and malicious motives - and twists it into a delicious send-up of the classic thriller. It's a delight to watch; though we know the tools of the trade, Deathtrap holds more than a few surprises. It seems in every scene there's a brand new scheme.

City Circle's production takes place in the Iowa Children's Museum at Coral Ridge Mall. It's a small space but it works perfectly for a piece like this. Lee Iben has crafted a marvelous rendering of Bruhl's colonial, whose sinister red walls are covered with weapons of all sorts. Director Alex Iben seems to have a firm grip on the themes of the piece, and though the energy dips a bit in the first act, the action is rolling along by the end.

Scott Hughes (who plays Bruhl) and Matthew James (who plays Anderson) work quite well together. It's a lot of fun to watch them conniving, trying to gain the edge in this cat-and-mouse game. They're reserved for the most part, playing their cards close to their chest, but as the action heats up they each have some outrageous moments of pure comedy. The supporting cast rounds out a solid ensemble; in particular, Kaitlyn Busbee is hilarious as the excitable psychic Helga Ten Dorp.

Deathtrap is playing at the Iowa Children's Museum at Coral Ridge Mall from March 5-7 and 12-14 (Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30, Sunday at 2:30). Tickets are $17 for general admission, $14 for students and seniors. Tickets can be purchased at the Coralville Recreation Center or by calling 248-1750.