Nothing is as it seems, and no intentions are clear until it’s too late in Kanata Theatre’s mystery play, Deathtrap. Originally a black comedy film from 1982, we follow washed up playwright Sidney Bruhl and his wife through two weeks of their lives, where the once funny jokes of murder become far more serious and much less humorous. The audience embarks on a journey discovering what motives are truly driving our characters, and just how far they’ll go to secure fame and fortune.
Tim Mabey as Sidney Bruhl with Jenny Pfitzer as Helgaten Darp. Photo by Alex Henkelman.
In this play, the dialogue is heavy, with a lot of information coming towards the audience continuously. The set is stunning, but this is to be expected from the Ron Maslin Theatre. Every show they produce has a beautiful and detailed stage and Deathtrap is no exception. The costumes were wonderful, and the audience was clearly appreciative of this during the performance.
Jesse Lalonde as Clifford Anderson and Sidney Bruhl played by Tim Mabey. Photo by Alex Henkelman.
The audience was abuzz during the intermission, and as they left the building at the end of the performance. The excitement the community had over this locally-run show in Kanata was not missed. This was, for me, the highlight of the experience, not being familiar with the play to begin with. Hearing people speak of the stylistic choices that were made, and debate the impacts of a play such as this one in today’s world versus when it originally ran in the ’80s made me smile. It is wonderful to have a community be stoked to talk about theatre, and this play did just that.
Tim Mabey as Sidney Bruhl with Chrissy Hollands as Myra Bruhl. Photo by Alex Henkelman.
This would be a wonderful show to bring multi-generational families to, as it could facilitate a lovely conversation and connection about theatre, old and new.
Make sure to catch Deathtrap playing until Sept. 20. For more information about the performance, check out Kanata Theatre’s website. You can also purchase tickets online.
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