'Deathtrap' opens at the BeeKay Theatre

Provided.

The production crew proves all the pieces fit!

What do you get when you combine fame, ego, ambition, jealousy, intrigue, deception and just plain malice with a touch of the psychic? You get "Deathtrap, a thriller in two acts," which is the opening line spoken by actor, Ed Kramer who plays playwright, Sidney Bruhl in the Tehachapi Community Theatre Association's (TCTA) summer offering.

"Deathtrap" playwright, Ira Levin was just 23 when he wrote his first novel, the award-winning masterpiece of crime fiction, "A Kiss Before Dying," then turned his artistic attention to Broadway. His first play, "No Time for Sergeants," ran for over 700 performances and launched a career that spanned over 50 years. Levin was dubbed the king of the high-concept thriller whose successes include, "Rosemary's Baby" (1967), "The Stepford Wives" (1972) and "The Boys from Brazil" (1976).

"Turning such a challenging script into a polished performance is as exhilarating as fitting in the last piece of a jigsaw puzzle," Director Kenny Chugg said. "I discovered the script, was intrigued by the diabolical storyline and felt that Tehachapi audiences would be fascinated, as well. It seemed a perfect fit for our season of shows."

"Deathtrap" takes us into the world of Sidney Bruhl, a once-successful writer of stage thrillers. Sidney is suffering a humiliating writer's block when young playwright, Clifford Anderson sends him a brilliant new whodunit. Desperate to return to Broadway's limelight, Sidney conjures a plot to kill the newcomer and pass the play off as his own. Is that what is really happening?

"Deathtrap" is full of plot twists and characters who are not quite who they appear to be. Their secret and ulterior motives will keep you on the edge of your seat until the brilliant, bloody end. The non-stop action all takes place in Sidney Bruhl's study in the Bruhl home in Westport, Connecticut. Fasten your seatbelts. It's a deathtrap in more ways than one.

You don't want to miss the next live theater production of this dark, twisted comedy. "Deathtrap" plays weekends from Aug. 16 at the BeeKay Theatre, 110 S. Green St., Tehachapi. Tickets and more information available at http://www.TCTAonstage.com/.

Shows Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Aug. 16 through Sept. 1.