Stage West kicks off their new season with the 1978 Ira Levine murder mystery Deathtrap. The longest running comedy-thriller in Broadway history, the Tony nominated show was adapted into a film starring the late Christopher Reeve and Michael Caine in 1982.

Broadway Myster writer Sidney Bruhl (Ashley Wright) is struggling after a series of flops. He receives a script from Clifford Anderson (Justin Stadnyk), a student in a seminar he has been teaching, that seems like a surefire hit. Sydney and his wife Myra (Natascha Girgis) invite Anderson to their remote home to work with him on his script, and from there a series of twists and turn stake the audience on a ride through the rest of the two acts.

Calgary’s master of murder mystery Mark Bellamy has directed a stellar cast and show. It is at times intense, and other times hysterically funny, especially when the always amazing Elinor Holt shows up as psychic Helga ten Dorp for some comedy relief. Anton de Groots set – a converted barn – captured the idea of a writers den complete with fireplace, wooden beams, and a homy feeling.

It is also an additional element of entertainment seeing a show set 40+ years ago. Younger attendees seeing the character typing on typewriters and using corded phones while talking about carbon copies is definitely a very different experience from if the show was set in modern day. A part of me is curious to see what a modern-day version would look like. Also... where does Stage West get these props? Is there a warehouse of vintage props?

The cast, which also includes Robert Klien as lawyer Porter Milgrin, balance their characters between serious and funny. Stadnyk and Wright deliver engaging characters that are on the stage for most of the show. Wright makes his Stage West debut while the rest of the cast will be familiar to long time visitors.

Deathtrap is a lot of fun to watch and try and figure out what the end of the story will be. It’s "meta" before meta was a thing, a play within a play about a play. With a lot happening in the first act, the audience is ready after intermission to see what else happens. It’s a worthy addition to Stage West’s history of murder and mystery shows.

Dinner as always is the other reason to go to Stage West. Guests enjoyed delicious Chicken Cordon Bleu, Stuffed Pork Loin, and gyozas along with trademarks like roast beef, cold shrimp, and the amazing Ceaser salad. Make sure you save room for dessert – the strawberry shortcake and banana caramel cheesecake were highlights along with the always addicting Florentine Cookies.

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Contributor Jason Clevett |

Locale Calgary |

Topic Stagewest | Theatre |