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Deathtrap at Century Church Theatre
Friday May 2 2008

Which of these characters is prepared to commit murder in the upcoming production of Deathtrap at Century Church Theatre. In rehearsal are Brigida Scholten, Patrick Ney, Wayne Moore, Trish Hamilton and Michael Mclaughlin.

 
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Century Theatre Guild will present Deathtrap, the famous thriller by Ira Levin, at Century Church Theatre Hillsburgh, May 7 to 10. Deathtrap was one of the biggest hits in the history of Broadway, and was made into a film starring Michael Caine and Christopher Reeve. Levin, the author of Rosemary's Baby, has taken the basic components of thrillers, mysteries and horror stories -- murder, deceit, innocent dialogue with sinister meanings, plot reversals -- and twisted and rearranged the pieces again and again to create a masterpiece of theatre.

The play centres on a well-known but down-on-his-luck playwright, Sidney Bruhl, his wife, and a former student. We also have a psychic famous for pointing out murderers, and Sidney's lawyer; as the play describes it, a thriller in two acts, one set, five characters. The basic premise is this: how far will someone go to have a hit play? Everyone has hidden motives that lead to treachery and betrayal.

A great deal of the delight in this story is that there are many times when we feel we know exactly what the characters are going to do next. Each time, Levin pulls the rug out from under us, and we become enmeshed in a series of delightful double-entendres. The clues are there, but which are real and which are false? Even with a psychic to help, you won't see what's coming. Each time you seem to grasp the plot, it slips through your fingers. Please do not give away the ending!

The show plays at Century Church Theatre, May 7 to 10, with shows at 8 p.m. and a 2:30 p.m. matinee on Saturday. Tickets are $15, $18 on Friday and Saturday evening. Call the box office at 519-855-4586 for tickets.