Auditions for Deathtrap

Cedar Falls - CFCT is producing Deathtrap by Ira Levin in October, and are looking for five adult actors. William G. Dawson directs.

Auditions take place August 12 and 13 at 7:00 at Oster Regent Theatre.

Roles

"Sidney Bruhl, 50's, give or take a few years. A famous playwright who is now in a slump. He's charming, witty, and a bit full of himself.

Myra, his rich wife and similar age, she's frail with a heart condition.

Clifford Anderson, young playwright, has written what could be the next big hit.

Porter Milgrim, Sidney's attorney and protective friend.

Helga Ten Dorp, a Psychic with a Dutch accent who's helped police solve crimes. She's staying next door."

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.

Deathtrap opens March 5th

In Deathtrap, professional rivalry becomes deadly. Sidney Bruhl, who is having a killer case of writer's block, invites young writer Clifford Anderson over to discuss his new murder mystery. But Clifford is in for more than he bargained for...

Deathtrap is a metatheatrical romp full of plot twists, sinister characters and outrageous plays for power. Written by Ira Levin in 1978, it ran for Broadway for years and is Levin's most famous play.

City Circle's production runs from March 5-7 and 12-14, starting at 7:30pm (2:30 on Sundays) at the Iowa Children's Museum in the Coral Ridge Mall. Call the Coralville Rec Center (319-248-1750) for tickets.

Deathtrap Cast Chosen

City Circle - The cast of City Circle's production of Deathtrap has been announced.

SIDNEY - Scot Hughes
MYRA - Barb Arceneaux
CLIFFORD - Matthew James
HELGA - Kaitlyn Busbee
POTER - Brad Quinn

The show is directed by Alex Iben. It opens March 4 at the Iowa Children's Museum. One of the five longest-running non-musicals in Broadway history, Deathtrap is both the epitome of a classic thriller and a playful insider’s poke at the genre. Perhaps the opening lines of the show describe it best: “A thriller in two acts. One set. Five characters. A juicy murder in Act One, unexpected developments in Act Two. Sound construction, good dialogue, laughs in the right places. Highly commercial.”

Deathtrap Auditions this weekend

City Circle - Auditions for Deathtrap will be held Saturday, December 5 from noon-2pm at the Iowa Children's Musuem in the Coralville Mall. Email deathtrap@citycircle.org to schedule an audition. Auditioners are asked to prepare a two minute monologue that shows range and ability. Callbacks will be Sunday, December 6 from noon-4pm. The show opens March 4th, 2010. It is directed by Alex Iben.