Brightside Theatre presents its adaptation of a beloved Broadway play brimming with twists, comedy, revenge and possibly murder.
“Deathtrap,” written by Ira Levin, is the longest-running comedic thriller in Broadway history and the fifth-longest-running Broadway play of all time. It was adapted into a 1982 film starring Michael Caine and Christopher Reeve.
It will be staged at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays March 8-24 at the Theatre at Meiley-Swallow Hall at North Central College in Naperville.
Directed by Jason Harrington of Westchester, “Deathtrap” is a comedic thriller about aging playwright Sidney Bruhl, who’s in a slump and receives a script in the mail from his former student and mentee, Clifford Anderson.
The script is brilliant and Bruhl and his wife Myra devise a plan to claim the script as his own by doing away with Clifford. The Bruhls invite Clifford over – seemingly to work on the script – and the play unfolds from there, Harrington said.
“Our hope is that our audience really feels like they’re on a roller coaster both in terms of the surprises that are inherent in the script, but also the tone of the show,” he said. “I hope that at times it’s dramatic and at times scary and at times funny.”
Scott Kelley of Schaumburg stars as Sidney Bruhl, Tyler Szarabajka of Vernon Hills stars as Clifford Anderson, Lisa Braatz of Naperville stars as the nosy and possibly psychic neighbor Helga Ten Dorp, Marianne Embree of Arlington Heights plays Bruhl’s wife, Myra; and John Zimmerman of Carol Stream is Bruhl’s attorney, Porter Milgrim.
His cast is doing “brilliantly,” he said.
“It’s been a strong process. There are only five of them and everyone is a crucial part of the storytelling,” he said. “It’s a wordy play and there is a lot of action onstage, too. Everyone’s role is incredibly significant in the crafting of the piece.”
Harrington has not only never acted in or directed any version of “Deathtrap” before, he’s never seen the play or the movie.
“As a director, it’s a beautiful space to be in,” he said. “It’s also a little scary. I just love having just the text of the script, having my imagination, having the imagination of the actors and the designers and building the show off of that.
“What it ensures is that our production is going to be true to who we are as artists. We’re going to tell the story in such a way that resonates with us and I think that’s always a formula that helps the story resonate with the audience too. It makes it a really authentic experience.”
There’s a lot in the play to keep track of, including which character knows what at what time, he said. There are secret plans within secret plans within secret plans, he said.
“This show is such a puzzle. There are twists upon twists,” he said. “So it’s been fun just unpacking the story and unpacking the script with the actors. It’s whip-smart and there’s a lot there. Almost everything that’s referenced is referenced again in a different context and so unraveling that mystery has been a big part of our process and a really fulfilling one.”
He thinks audiences will really enjoy the play, he said. Instead of sitting back and relaxing, he wants the audience to sit forward and engage, he said.
“I think that’s what the play is going to do. I think it will keep people on the edge of their seat,” he said. “I think people will be absolutely delighted by the surprises and just when you think you’ve figured it out, you will be surprised again. I think there is great fun in having that experience in a show.”
The play will give you jump scares and horror and laughs all in one, he said.
“It pushes all the buttons,” he said. “I hope that audiences are in it – that they have sort of a visceral reaction to it. I think that’s what thrillers touch on. It’s a playground for exploring sometimes horrific ideas and motives.”
If you don’t know the play, you’re in for night of surprises, he said.
“If you do know the play, come and see how we’re approaching the story and see what the characters feel like with our actors living within them.”
‘Deathtrap’
When: 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays March 8-24
Where: Theatre at Meiley-Swallow Hall at North Central College, 31 S. Ellsworth Ave., Naperville
Tickets: $32-$37
Information: 630-447-8497; Brightsidetheatre.com
Annie Alleman is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.
