Hebden Bridge Little Theatre

ANYONE trotting along to a play called 'Deathtrap' probably hopes for a spine-tingling experience. Hebden Bridge Little Theatre's production of Ira Levin's 1978 thriller does not disappoint - there are thrills aplenty.

Sidney Bruhl has been a successful playwright for years, but times have changed and Sidney is on the slide. Despite the attentions of his loyal wife Myra he is starting to get desperate - and this is a thriller, so we all know where that leads. Enter the youthful and naïve Clifford, who has written a play and sent it to Sidney for his opinion. This being thriller (again) he hasn't made copies, nobody knows where he is, Sidney and Myra live in an isolated spot…you get the picture.

There is more to this play than initially meets the eye, and Levin plays with the conventions in a way that approaches gentle parody. He gradually cranks up the tension and then hits the audience with an excellent plot twist. I must confess that, having seen the film, I knew what was coming, but the gasps around me suggested that I was in a minority. There are also some witty one-liners and knowing nods to the thriller genre - personally I could cope with fewer references to 'Gaslight', but this is a minor cavil about a fine piece of dramatic writing.

The Little Theatre Company does its usual sterling work under Sharon Kelly's able direction. Alan Stockdill brings power and conviction to Sidney - he is rarely off the stage and he takes the chance to show off his versatility. As Myra, Anita Alzamora-Watson finds a nice blend of neuroticism while never overdoing the histrionics. David Gunning does fine work as Cliff, giving him innocence with a predatory edge, and Liz Bick makes the most of her wonderful scene-stealing role as the psychic who just happens to be passing. Ray Riches is as convincing as ever as Sidney's lawyer-cum-sidekick - if that's who he really is?

'Deathtrap' runs until Saturday April 26 and it's well worth going along - just be prepared for a few shocks before the evening is over!