Little Theatre staging ‘Deathtrap’

A departure from previous productions like “Beauty and the Beast,” “Murder at Rutherford House,” and most recently, “The Gin Game,” Fort Frances Little Theatre is poised to stage “Deathtrap” in April.
They just need a few actors.
“People are welcome to get aboard,” director Cathy Richards said. “We’ll probably hold auditions later this month.”
A perfect starting point for prospective actors would be at the troupe’s next meeting tonight (Jan. 16) at 7 p.m. at Gillons’ Insurance Brokers, she added.
“Deathtrap,” a thriller penned by best-selling author and playwright Ira Levin, sports a cast of five. Familiar faces Paul Elliot and Brian Hagarty already have been confirmed for their roles.
“I’m tempted to play one of the roles myself. It’s wonderful to direct, but sometimes, with a play like this, you’re off the to side and you want to just get in there,” Richards remarked.
She noted the troupe has been planning the production since the fall.
“It was going to be a winter play, but we had to move it to the spring because it was the only time we could get the Townshend Theatre,” she explained.
“It’s a little late but we’re hoping people will come out for it,” she added.
“We had some pretty lengthy discussions as to what people wanted. And we wanted a ‘budda-boom’ one, something exciting,” Richards enthused.
“It’s got a huge set, weapons, sound effects, and wonderful dialogue.”
“Deathtrap” is slated to open April 27. Details, such as ticket availability and the length of the run, will be announced at a later date.
“Deathtrap” is a cat-and-mouse mystery about a struggling playwright, his ailing but wealthy wife, and a talented former student. Motives for murder are revealed as they spend a weekend at a remote vacation house.
Levin also authored such novels and screenplays as “This Perfect Day,” “The Boys from Brazil,” “Rosemary’s Baby,” “A Kiss Before Dying,” “Sliver,” and “The Stepford Wives.”