MONEY is the root of all evil as David Soul's growling American accent gives us frustrated playwright Sidney Bruhl, who has moved into the irony and steal business. Rich wife Myra (Susan Penhaligon) finds herself confronted with a husband hell-bent on killing off unknown talented newcomer Clifford Anderson (Gerald Kyd) to gain possession of a script worth millions.
Bruhl's humour is deliciously dark as a sell-out opening night audience becomes spellbound by Ira Levin's clever 1978 thriller. Those who've seen the 1982 film version, with Michael Caine and Christopher Reeve, might recall the twists and turns which produces the unexpected first-half murder. I have to confess that, despite a few fluffs, Soul's ability to make Bruhl believable allowed the surprises to sneak up on me just like everybody else.
Having moved into the "will-he-get-away-with-it?" territory so favoured by TV's Colombo, the plot's less likely second half retains a cutting edge. This is partly thanks to Becky Hindley's comic portrayal of ESP crime-solving Helga ten Dorp, who just happens to be in the same US backwoods on holiday.
Stewart Bevan adds in the facts-and-figures man Porter Milgrim, who sparks off the murderous conclusion. The impressive set earns its keep as we see a play developing within a play and Soul's fondness for video screen technology ensures that our eyes have little interest in escaping. Soul and Kyd's concentration even survived a mobile phone owner who insisted on sharing the Colonel Bogey theme with us several times after the interval. I'm surprised one extra murder wasn't added to the list.
Viv Hardwick
*Deathtrap runs until Saturday. Performances at 8pm, Sat Mat 2.30pm. Tickets: Weds-Thurs £13.50, Fri-Sat £14.50. Box Office: (01642) 552663
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