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‘Deathtrap’
The Bradley Playhouse will present “Deathtrap” starting Oct. 4. Left: Sean Gardell will play Clifford Anderson. Right: William Corriveau plays Porter Milgrim and Jen Briere plays Helga ten Dorp. Photos by Chris Atwood.
'Deathtrap' coming to Bradley
PUTNAM — It’s time for the Theatre of Northeastern Connecticut’s traditional fall thriller. Head to the Bradley Playhouse for Ira Levin’s “Deathtrap,” which is described as two-thirds thriller and one-third devilishly clever comedy. The show opens Oct. 4 and runs for three weekends.
Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 4, 5, 11, 12, 18 and 19 and at 2 p.m. Oct. 6, 13 and 20. Tickets are $20 for adults and $16 for seniors and students.
Reservations may be made with a major credit card online at www.thebradleyplayhouse.org or by calling 860-928-7887. Tickets may be purchased at the theater box office, either before the performance or at the door if available. Purchasing tickets ahead of time is always a good idea.
Deathtrap, which is set in Westport, finds Sidney Bruhl, a successful writer of Broadway thrillers, struggling to over come a string of failures. A possible break in his fortunes occurs when he receives a script from one of his students that he recognizes as a potential hit. With his wife’s help, he devises a plan to offer collaboration with the student, which the young man accepts. Thereafter suspense mounts and the plot begins to twist and turn with devilish cleverness. Helga, a nosey psychic neighbor, and Porter, Sydney’s observant friend and attorney, can only speculate where the line between truth and deception lies.
The TNECT performance of Deathtrap is directed by Natasha Darius who is assisted by Jonathan Demers. Preston Arnold appears as playwright Sidney Bruhl and Valerie Coleman is his wife, Myra. The young, aspiring writer, Clifford Anderson, is played by Sean Gardell. The cast is completed by Jennifer Briere as psychic Helga ten Dorp and William Corriveau as friend and attorney Porter Milgrim.
When Deathtrap opened on Broadway in 1978, New York Times critic Walter Kerr wrote that it contained “effrontery everywhere and fun straight through.” It was nominated for four Tony Awards, including Best Play. In 1982, it was adapted for film, starring Christopher Reeve, Michael Caine and Dyan Cannon.
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