By Diane Johnson
The Waterfront Playhouse production of Deathtrap is an intricate mystery thriller, whose hair-raising revelations will keep you on the edge of your seat. David Black plays Sidney Bruhl, the guy with a serious case of writer’s block, who will do anything to get back on top of his game. In fact, it’s been 18 years since he had a successful screenplay. Mark Watson is cast as the gifted young playwright Clifford with a very promising first draft. The tension inherent in the two writers relationship vacillates between camaraderie and jealousy, creating an energy that sizzles across the stage!
Mary Falconer is Myra, Sidney’s naïve and sickly wife who doesn’t understand why he can’t get his act together. If only the words would flow, they could stop using up her inheritance. Geno Drum plays Porter Milgrim, Sidney’s attorney. Although Porter has a relatively small part in the story, his observations have serious unintended consequences. Chris Stone is Helga Ten Dorp, the psychic who picks up bad vibes and knows all is not well in the house where Sidney and Myra live. Chris is an experienced actress, who has lived in Key West since 1976. She is a healer, a landscape artist and has a long list of roles in her acting repertoire. This Renaissance woman is a force to be reckoned with on the stage.
Bob Bowersox directs this cleverly constructed murder mystery thriller designed to shock the audience. Your inner sleuth is sorely tested when you attempt to figure out what is happening and why, but as each scene unfolds we are confounded with yet new and startling information.
“Deathtrap” defies conventional wisdom as its twists its way from the first scene to the final hilarious conclusion. Michael Boyer creates a unique set of the old Westport, Connecticut, house where the story takes place. David Bird manages the lighting; Leigh Hooten is in charge of costumes; Carmen Rodriguez oversees the murder weapons, and Trish Manley is the stage manager.
“Deathtrap” was written by Ira Levin and has the distinction of being the longest running comedy thriller on Broadway. Back in 1982 it was made into a movie starring Michael Caine, Dyan Cannon and Christopher Reeve. “Deathtrap” was one of the first American movies to show two men kissing. As recent as last August, in Los Angeles, the estate of Ira Levin filed a cease and desist notice to keep the Gay and Lesbian Center from staging “Deathtrap.” Their objection was based on a 30-second scene of Clifford’s bare buns. Upon appeal, conditional approval was granted with the caveat that no physical relationship could be shown between Sidney and the young protégé Clifford. As a result, the production was canceled.
As a lover of mysteries, I found the Waterfront production of “Deathtrap” a delightful finale to its 73rd season. The show runs through May 18.

INFO
(305) 294-5015, www.WaterfrontPlayhouse.org