Deathtrap is Smart, Sharp, Surprising at The Palace
- Izzy Siebert
- 5 days ago
- 3 min read
Updated: 3 days ago
Would you kill for respect? For money? For glory? In the right hands, a creative idea can be all three, and in Deathtrap that’s worth dying for. The Palace’s latest production, directed by James Patterson, is packed with nail-biting combat, shocking twists, and memorable performances. Catch it before it closes on Dec. 7!
Sydney Bruhl (David Lamari), a once-famed playwright of murder mysteries, hasn’t had a hit in years. When bright student Clifford Anderson (Marc Motiejunas) drops the perfect script in his lap, Sydney realizes a good idea might be worth killing for, much to the horror of his wife, Myra (Tricia West).
From the pen of playwright Ira Levin, best known for horror novels like Rosemary’s Baby and The Stepford Wives, Deathtrap holds the record as Broadway’s longest-running thriller, and it’s easy to see why. It has an intriguing premise, a smart script, and a darkly comedic tone that earns shivers and laughs.
Murder mysteries can be difficult to stage. Without crafty camera angles, editing tricks, or set changes, playwrights must get creative when crafting compelling mysteries. There’s a risk that the plot will be predictable or, in an attempt to overcorrect, become so unpredictable that the story loses all sense of logic. Not so with Deathtrap. It clings close enough to reality that the audience tracks the plot while still being delighted by juicy twists—of which there are several!
As Clifford says in an early scene, “The audience should suspect, yes, but they shouldn’t be absolutely certain, should they? Doesn’t that tend to diminish the suspense?” These lines take on a delicious irony as the action ramps up. Although the audience can make predictions, Deathtrap keeps suspense intact and everyone guessing.
As a murder mystery play about murder mystery plays, the meta nature of Ira Levin’s script offers a lot of material for the actors to play with. Patterson’s cast leans into the delight of a permeable fourth wall and delivers ironic observations like verbal winks. There’s undeniable fun in watching characters offer commentary on stereotypical roles, story beats, and even where intermission should fall, as we watch it all play out.
More than just a smartly constructed thriller, Deathtrap is driven by strong characters. The Palace’s production is led by a solid cast with a good grasp of the complexity of their roles. Envy rolls off of Lamari’s Sydney as desperation drives him to contemplate murder and scurry around his house plotting violence and betrayal.
West nails the hovering, horrified wife who hopes the boys will play nice and collaborate. Genuinely chilling moments arise when she faces a husband of eleven years whom she no longer recognizes or when her hyperventilating panic is the only sound after a body hits the floor. Meanwhile, Clifford brings the most surprises throughout the show. From the boyish energy as he explores the home of his idol to intensely physical confrontations, Motiejunas handles a formidable character arc that no one sees coming.
Add in Julia Askerov as Helga TenDorp, an eccentric neighbour with psychic abilities, and the resulting comic relief is even more enjoyable than expected. Visits where she wanders the scene of the crime blend suspense and hilarity as she delivers predictions that get too close to the truth. Jim Kelch rounds out the cast as Sydney’s lawyer and friend, Porter Milgram.
To add even more edge to their interactions, the characters play against a menacing set, designed by Eric Bernard and stocked by props master Bert Warren. A veritable arsenal of glinting weapons provided by Shrew'd Business lines the walls. With maces, knives and axes ready to be grabbed at a moment’s notice, it's a visual representation that the balance of the story can shift at any time… and it certainly does!
Audiences eager for drama or craving the cleverness of a Knives Out-esque mystery won’t be disappointed by Deathtrap. To write any more would be to spoil the thing. Get your tickets before the curtain closes on Dec. 7!
