Broadway's longest running thriller-comedy, 'Deathtrap,' playing at Ted Jones Playhouse
Two experiences for one ticket: You'll get a play, "Deathtrap," that has been a film hit, but the bonus is getting a petrifying thriller tucked nicely into a comedy. For those who like to laugh as they quake, here comes midwinter fun from American playwright, novelist and songwriter Ira Levin (1929-2007).
Constellation Stage & Screen's production runs Jan. 26-Feb. 19 at Bloomington's intimate Ted Jones Playhouse.
"Deathtrap" is Broadway's longest running thriller-comedy and ran away with four Tony Award nominations, including Best Play. Levin's first produced play was "No Time for Sergeants," featuring Andy Griffith as an untraveled country boy drafted into the U. S. Air Force. It gave birth to Griffith's colossal career.
But Levin's real fame sprang in 1978 from "Deathtrap," which in 1982 became a movie staring Christopher Reeve and Michael Caine.
"Deathtrap" introduces us to the youthful and clean-cut Clifford Anderson, who writes dramas. But so far, would-be producers have kept their phones silent. Anguished yet hopeful, he sends his newest, scary script to a man who can help. Sidney, a once successful Broadway author, is happy to critique Clifford's writing; in fact, spare time is abundant, as Sidney hasn't basked in a literary win for years.
This newbie's play is good, and Sidney, with his wife's enforced assistance, designs a plagiarism scheme, to make the play seem like his, not Clifford's.
"Clifford is a gifted first-time playwright who has just written a play that might be worth killing for," said John Drea, who plays the character in Constellation's production.
Drea, who has not let down his pre-pandemic guard and continues to take on theater roles, said he does so not just because of his interesting colleagues but also the thrill of the rehearsal process.
"Sometimes I wish Clifford was a little less trusting. He's very bright, but sometimes being the smartest person in the room means that he lets his guard down."
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Drea usually plays students, one of his favorites being Christopher in "The Sound Inside." Coincidentally, both Clifford and Christopher are young and talented, with complicated mentor relationships, which call for hard choices.
"Deathtrap" provides an amusing and evocative look at how we manage priorities. In doing so we sometimes reveal our minds' surprising facets.
Michael Caine played the other male lead, Sidney, in the film. New York based actor Mark Coffin plays him here. Referring to a 1961 film he likes, Coffin said, "The scary things lay in what might or might not be real, as opposed to startling you with visual shocks or loud noises. Psychological horror. What’s really in your mind."
Chad Rabinowitz, Constellation's artistic director of new works, ironically, is directing this much safer tried-and-true, been-plenty-praised piece. It might be interesting to see if he adds anything twisty to Levin's already skillfully twist-strewn "Deathtrap."
If you go
WHAT: Ira Levin's "Deathtrap," a thriller-comedy
WHEN: Jan. 26-Feb. 19. Check website for times at https://seeconstellation.org/
WHERE: Ted Jones Playhouse, 107 W. Ninth St.
TICKETS: Start at $35 for adults, $20 for students. Pay-what-you-will Thursdays start at $5. Visit https://bit.ly/3GsVEM.
