Deathtrap – Review

A visit to Malvern Theatre is surprisingly exquisite as I arrive to watch their latest in the 2023 season lineup, Deathtrap.

The venue is well appointed, the theatre itself is just adorable, very accessible, and offers a comfortable evening out. The volunteer staff are approachable and attentive. As I find my seat I realize there is simply no bad view within the theatre of the stage.

Nestled in my spot I notice many framed season brochures and photographs adorning the walls and made notes to explore these during intermission. The theatre’s history is on proud display and very inviting. I find myself excited as the lights go down to watch this comic thriller of a show, it feels like a treat!

Lights up and the set has been dressed in intimate detail. We are definitely in the 1970s, but not nauseatingly so. We are in the writing and living space of Sidney Bruhl, a once-successful writer of Broadway thrillers. Various paraphernalia hangs on the walls, weapons of all kinds – collectables and memorabilia from his past successful shows. There is a small fire in the fireplace, double doors leading to a porch and an entryway behind the prominent sofa centre stage. It’s cozy, and just a little captivating as the story unfolds in this one-room setting.

The leading character Sydney Bruhl, played by actor Brett Whittingham, offers a very nuanced performance. As we follow his character arc throughout the show, the actor deftly reveals aspects to Sidney in such a way that draws you in. You can’t help but watch this actor.

Bruhl’s wife Myra, played by Helen Ellis, convincingly portrays a woman very quickly concerned with the lengths to which her husband may imminently be willing to go to, to get what he wants. Walking the line between ‘will he, won’t he’, the character of Myra has a load of emotional heavy lifting to navigate.

Travis Handcock, portraying student Clifford Anderson, shifts and morphs throughout the story and in mere moments convincingly portrays a new aspect to the character that is increasingly multifaceted. From innocent to vengeful, supportive to calculating. It is restrained, and very convincing.

The story uncoils as Sidney recognizes that his student Clifford has a script that is a potential Broadway smash hit. With financial problems and a few failures piled up behind him in recent years, Sidney weighs in on collaborating with the student, or simply eliminating him entirely to claim the script as his own.

The tale develops in sometimes predictable ways, and sometimes unpredictable ways. Regardless, it is enjoyable. Witticisms in the script will make you smile or give a tiny chuckle when you catch them.

At the end of Act One enters the amusing character of Helga ten Dorp, hilariously portrayed by Glenda May. The actor performs with glee, is appealing to watch and doesn’t miss a beat of writer, Ira Levin’s, masterfully written comedic relief. It is the palate cleanser exactly as required and the audience is won over in mere moments.

It speaks to Levin’s legacy that the longevity of his plays is evident, that decades later they still deliver delightful entertainment.

At the onset of Act Two the cast is rounded out with Porter Milgrim, a lawyer played by Greg Barison. The character feeds us necessary exposition that serves to keep the story evolving and progressing forward.

At no point is Deathtrap eerie, but it definitely has its jump-scare moments. Simply, it is a methodically well-written thriller, a crime story with an adventure!

Deathtrap at Malvern Theatre offers a lovely night out and is a reminder of why supporting the Arts in your community is such an important thing to do. What these smaller-sized theatres offer is an exceptional experience, with high-level entertainment and hospitality. A welcome and evening on par with a visit to a good friend or neighbour.

From the complimentary tea, coffee and biscuits served at intermission, to exploring the theatre’s history across its walls, to walking away into the night having thoroughly enjoyed the effort put into the show – it is pleasant and pleasurable entertainment.

Whether you’re a fan of the crime genre or not, Deathtrap has just enough comedy in it that will appeal to many ages and audiences alike. Keep artists employed, and Arts venues supported, by attending shows such as this in your community. You will be very happily rewarded.

Deathtrap – Malvern Theatre

Saturday April 29th – 8 pm

Sunday April 30th – 8 pm

Wednesday May 3rd – 8 pm

Thursday May 4th – 8 pm

Friday May 5th – 8 pm

Saturday May 6th – 2 pm

Sunday May 6th – 8 pm

Spread the word on your favourite platform!

Neil Simons’s Rumours – Review

Maitland Repertory Theatre’s production of Neil Simon’s “Rumours” is indeed something to talk about. Directed by Robert Comber, this production – despite involving for the characters serious bodily injury and gunshot wounds – will have you laughing the entire way through, and I had the privilege of viewing the performance on its opening night.

The play opens with a scene of panic. What was meant to be a lovely dinner party to celebrate a politician’s 10-year wedding anniversary has already been turned on its head. A reluctance for the truth to come out causes lies upon lies to be told as each character is introduced into the fold. In the end, the truth can no longer be contained! Although the audience can enjoy the dramatic irony of characters being told ridiculous stories, the real story of what occurred before the play opens remains a mystery for the whole play. As summed up perfectly by the character Ken Bevans (played by Eamonn O’Reilly), “No one has heard the real story yet. No one knows the real story.”

The stage design for Comber’s performance is a quaint and realistic living room setting, which allowed the actors to interact with each other closely and comfortably. The lighting similarly worked well for the play, providing a warm atmosphere perfect for the setting of a politician’s dinner party. Costumes were also very suited for the production and tied all the visuals on stage together nicely.

The cast was made up of 10 very keen actors with a variety of acting backgrounds. Although the play is set in New York, accents were employed in this production to portray a British setting, and the majority of the actors performed these accents flawlessly. These accents gave an “upper-class” feel to the characters and made us feel like we were peering into the secret lives of the wealthy. The script of the play is also very fast-paced, and although there were times in the performance when the pace dropped, the energy provided by the actors ensured that there was never a dull moment.

Of the 10 cast members, there were plenty of standout performances. Although some of the performances were either too melodramatic or one-dimensional, the farcical nature of the play forgave a lot of this. As such, it was easy to enjoy these performances and appreciate the energy and enthusiasm that the actors were bringing to the mayhem on the stage. The most chaotic moment in the performance was the final beat from act one, where each actor could not be faulted in their portrayal of despair, stress, confusion, and hunger.

There were, however, two performers who really shone in the opening night production. Matt Robinson (who played Leonard Cummings) created much of the humour with his expressive face, physicality, and comedic timing. His words were articulate, his lines were funny, and he played his character superbly. An absolute pleasure to watch on stage. Another standout performer was Jacqui Weston (who played PC Conklin). Her powerful body language and unbreaking eye contact created a strong stage presence. Despite having very few lines and not a great deal of stage time, her performance was compelling.

Although it may sound counterintuitive, one of my favourite moments from this performance was when one of the actors had forgotten their lines. They did not for a moment lose composure nor falter from their character, and the moment was able to be worked through with help from fellow cast mates. It was a moment of the cast becoming an ensemble, right before the audience’s eyes. A truly unique thing to experience, and a credit to the cast and director for cultivating the actor’s relationship.

“Rumours” is a gun-blazing farcical play of “tongues wagging and tales flying”. Comber’s production indeed does the play justice and, even in the face of opening night challenges, I would strongly recommend anyone to go and see it. The cast do a wonderful job at portraying the chaos that is in this play and it was an absolute treat to experience their performances.

Neil Simon’s Rumours – Maitland Repertory Theatre runs for three weekends only with the following sessions to choose from:-

  • Friday 28 April 2023 – 8:00 PM
  • Saturday 29 April – 8:00 PM
  • Friday 05 May 2023 – 8:00 PM
  • Saturday 06 May 2023 – 8:00 PM
  • Sunday 07 May 2023 – 2:00 PM Matinee Performance
  • Saturday 13 May 2023 – 8:00 PM
  • Sunday 14 May 2023 – 2:00PM Matinee Performance

Spread the word on your favourite platform!

And Then There Were None – Review

Adapting a novel with a storied history, such as Agatha Christie’s “And Then There Were None,” is no small feat. The novel has sold over 100 million copies and has been adapted countless times for visual media. Pleasingly, the Sunnybank Theatre Group’s current production of this classic story is a very successful interpretation. Director Chris O’Leary has adeptly led his team of actors and crew to bring what is a faithful and engaging rendition of one of Agatha Christie’s most famous works to the stage.

Opening night provided a few nerves for the cast and crew who had unfortunately been unable to perform a planned Preview show earlier in the week.   However, a clearly well-rehearsed team on and off stage ensured there were very few bumps in both performance and production.

Standout performances were delivered by Ashlee Hermann as Vera Claythorne, Weylin Martens-Mullane as Anthony Marston (and Fred Narracott), and Diane Watson as Miss Emily Brent.  

Ashlee Hermann’s portrayal of the young Secretary was nuanced, and she skilfully conveyed the character’s inner turmoil.  Hermann’s performance peaked in the scenes where Vera reveals her secrets, with Hermann conveying the weight of the character’s burden very successfully.  Mention must be made of Hermann’s most excellent off-stage scream.  It was so terror-inducing that audience members visibly jumped in their seats!

Weylin Martens-Mullane a relative newcomer to the theatre delivered exceptional performances as both Anthony Marston and Narracott. Martens-Mullane proved his versatility, adroitly transitioning between the two characters.  His portrayal of Anthony Marston was particularly noteworthy with the audience visibly riled by the sense of entitlement and “devil-may-care” attitude he brought to the role of the young British aristocrat.

Diane Watson possesses an excellent theatrical pedigree and brought this to bear in her impressive performance as Miss Emily Brent.  Watson’s performance brought a sense of authority and poise to the character and her scenes with the other characters were particularly engaging.  Watson very skilfully delivered the character’s lack of compassion and empathy which underpinned her fanatical beliefs, however on the lighter side, Watson will have finished a cardigan by the end of the run, such were her skills with the knitting needles and wool that were integral to her scenes!

The remainder of the cast performed commendably, with each performer inhabiting their character and clearly relishing the opportunity to bring the story to life for their first audience. The set design was well-thought-out, with attention to detail that successfully transported the audience to the isolated island where the action takes place.  The lighting design was effective in heightening the tension and suspense to create an immersive experience.  

In addition to impressive production values and excellent performances, the Sunnybank Theatre Group offers a complimentary glass of sparkling wine on opening nights (served by some of the friendliest volunteer bar staff around). This generous perk certainly added an extra level of enjoyment to the evening. With standout performances, strong direction, and solid production values this production of “And Then There Were None” is not to be missed.  Highly recommended for a fun night out at the theatre to anyone who loves a good mystery. The production runs until 6 May 2023.

And Then There Were None – Sunnybank Theatre Group

  • Saturday 29 April 2023 – 2:00 PM
  • Saturday 29 April – 7:30 PM
  • Sunday 30-April 2023 – 2:00 PM
  • Friday 05-May-2023 – 7:30 PM

Spread the word on your favourite platform!

The Improvised Superhero Movie – Review

For those attending the Melbourne Comedy Festival, you have a few more days to see the exciting and enjoyable ‘The Improvised Superhero Movie’ presented by The Improv Pit at the UBQ Basement Blackbox Theatre.

This delightful 60 minute show is unique to every performance since it is Improv comedy. For those who are unfamiliar with the live entertainment form of Improv Comedy, each show is made up completely on the spot, unscripted, by an ensemble of improvisers. Styles of Improv can be theatrical or competitive in content, and are inspired by audience suggestions. Due to the spontaneous nature of Improv, each performance is a unique one off and will never been seen ‘exactly’ that same way again.

The Improv Pit seem to perform in a style pretty notorious to Chicago, and The Improvised Superhero Movie reflects this. (Often jamming on a ‘game’ or ‘tilt’ in the scene work.) The format of the Superhero Movie unfolds in a progression of scenes, very closely resembling a format called the Harold (But not an actual Harold). Ensemble members contributing frequently and frenetically to the story line as it evolves.

The night I attended saw a Robot superhero navigate Asimov’s three laws of robotics, while seeking to vanquish a Wiccan-Eugenic Villain with their murderous pet lizard in tow. All of this unfolded in the unsuspecting suburb of Nunawading.

Most players had characters and scenes in which they could shine, and while some parts of the story became chaotic with improvisers speaking over each other, the ensemble frequently course corrected and came back to the story line.

Anybody newer to watching Improv comedy, the success of a show generally rests on the ensembles ability to listen, share and ‘yes, and’ each other. The work is elevated when improvisers fully commit to character choices and use physicality to flesh out the imaginative environment they are performing within. This was all on consistent display at the show I saw with players negotiating any blocks they had inadvertently given another in their enthusiasm.

For those attending who are concerned about being called on to provide a suggestion for the show, do not fear. Only once was the audience asked to yell out suggestions for The Improvised Superhero Movie, that being the title of that evenings movie at the top of the show. This ensemble doesn’t seem to warm up the audience prior to asking for the suggestion, so here’s a tip!

Feel free to brainstorm some fun titles of a superhero movie, that don’t already exist, prior to the show. It will give you something to yell out when asked as an audience to do so. This will avoid inducing the common audience reaction of ‘panic’ to come up with something on the spot. Leave that to the ensemble!

‘The Improvised Superhero Movie’ – UBQ Basement Blackbox Theatre

Thursday 20th April – 7.30 pm

Friday 21st April – 7.30 pm

Saturday 22nd April – 7.30 pm

Sunday 23rd April – 7.30 pm

Spread the word on your favourite platform!

Connect Online

© 2025 Dark Stories Pty Ltd     ♦     Whats The Show